Look Up

By Emily M., on mission in Uruguay

The Lord in His mercy has been helping me renew my mind, as St. Paul says. With so many new things to experience, I have often found myself focused inward on my struggles. The Lord has consistently reminded me to “Look Up.”

As I walk through the halls of Cottolengo (a home for men with disabilities), wondering when I will be able to communicate with these men. I need to Look Up, and see the man who spends his days rubbing sticks together. He doesn’t speak, yet he smiles at me as I walk by, holding out his hand to me. I take it and he repeatedly kisses it and offers me one of his sticks. We spend a little time together, smiling and playing with the sticks. In this moment I learn that sometimes words are not needed to love.