Those Great Nuns of Upper Nyack, New York

I was very happy to read the article in the NY Times titled, "Nuns' Property Along Hudson to Become Parkland" which tells the wonderful story of the Sisters of Our Lady of Christian Doctrine (also known as the Marydell sisters), a religious order of nuns from Upper Nyack, NY who did the right thing. Instead of selling their valuable property overlooking the Hudson River to developers, they instead decided to sell 30 acres of their property to the Trust for Public Land, a nonprofit conservation group, which will turn it into parkland for the public to enjoy.  This was important because it adjoins both Nyack Beach State Park and Rockland Lake State Park. The views are apparently amazing and are some of the views that inspired the Hudson River School painters.
The sisters who have sold the property to help with the aging sisters and to make repairs on the property they will continue to own (they are keeping 10 acres), could have sold it for a much higher price. But the sisters believe the land is sacred and should be preserved for future generations.
Sister Veronica Mendez, the order's president said that, It's beautiful......It really is a priceless piece of property, no matter how much money anyone offered us. This just seemed right."
Preserving a small piece of God's beautiful creation is a heavenly thing for sure.
NJA

The New Year Off To An Uncertain Start-Money Evaporates in the Stock Market

There is so much uncertainty in the world, not sure how people without faith live. I couldn't do it. Faith gives me hope, inner strength, confidence and the certainty that no matter how things are, "with God all things are possible." And in the words of Julian of Norwich, "All will be well and all shall be well and all manner of thing will be well." Faith and belief endure, because God is real and God's truths will prevail.
In the New Year, so far,  the stock market has lost a lot of value. People have lost a lot of money over the last four days. There is real panic because people just don't know what will happen next. It's been the worst beginning of a new year for the stock market ever. I watch business news because my husband watches CNBC and so I watch it too sometimes. The smartest minds in business and finance don't know where it's all going. China's policies affect the whole world. So our economy is tied to global worries and China's economic policies.  Some people think we are headed for another recession but no one really knows.
Recessions and financial troubles come and go. The market goes up and down and there is great volatility.
People should be prudent with their money in these uncertain times. My friend who goes to a Catholic charismatic gathering near Boston every year, told me a few months ago that many people were inspired by the Holy Spirit and spoke of trying times that were coming. I said to her, at that time, "Well what do you think people should do with their money to keep it safe?" Her reply was, "put it under your mattress!"
Those of us who rely on prayer and God's truth stay close to God and weather the storms.
NJA