by Sr. Sheila Campbell MMM  Ireland  12.11.2021 
The other day I noticed this tree out on our front lawn.  It struck me as a lovely image of the Sisters inside the house.  It is in its autumnal stage, as we are.  I am one of the youngsters at 72!  But you can see how beautiful the tree is.  It is not afraid to flaunt its age with all the vibrancy of colour.  And we all age at a different pace.  Some are pale yellow, others have darkened into red.  At the top of the branches some have blown off heavenwards!

“When I am old, I shall wear purple” is one of my favourite poems.  It strikes me as the pose of a standing tall, independent woman who is comfortable in her own skin.  This is exactly what I want for myself as I age.  I remember Dona Ella, a feisty old woman in Salvador, Brazil.  She worked as a priest’s housekeeper long past the age of retirement and still had the energy to be matriarch of her large family and a leading light in many of the church groups.  I hear she will be celebrating her 100th birthday soon.
So today I celebrate ageing and being the age we are.  I wonder is it a coincidence that I decided to wear a purple T-shirt today…?