Dear Friends, 

The weather is getting cooler and the world is slowly changing. We have had a hard charged time over the past few months here in the United States with elections finally over. Now, we participate in this tradition of Thanksgiving, where we give thanks for the things the Lord has given to us so that we can move forward to a brighter reality. Yet, many of us are still caught in the dimness of worldliness that has enraptured the world today. We are so focused on the things of the world, that we to often forget the things of the spirit. Our goal in this time of St. Martin's Fast is to gain deeper awareness of our spiritual reality in Christ. We are being called not to a life that is focused on the self, but rather to the other. This is the great reality of Christianity, that we are called to the other. Jesus points this out to us when he says "love your neighbor as yourself." He is calling us out of our own egotistical reality and revealing to us the simple fact that we are called to more. We are called to love others as much as we love our own selves. In this great time of Thanksgiving, let us call to mind our neighbor, let us show true gentleness and love. Do not fall into the ways of the world, filled with hate, anger and all means of destruction of ourselves and the very fabric of our existence. Let us show forth the light of Christ to all those we meet and remember our own sinfulness, our weakness of our faith and ask the Lord for pardon. Go to confession, pray daily and give back to your local community. I pray that all will have a blessed Thanksgiving, let us remember the poor who do not have much this Thanksgiving and consider making donations of time and money to your local community shelter. We all need to do our part to end homelessness and help those with mental illness to find a place of rest in their condition. May the peace of Christ be upon you all. 

Sincerely, 

Br. Bartimaeus Cook, OSC 
Abbot-Elect
Order of St. Columba
Celtic Abbey of St. Cuthbert of Lindisfarne