A long walk up the mountain from Assisi—
my boot heel severed from my right foot Redwing,
I smacked it back, using some broken pavement.
I’d walked my little brother to l’Eremo,
some thirty years later I’d be a Catholic.
Now, I suppose, I’m almost a Franciscan.
I’d come not to find God but the Giottos,
ancient eye candy for a twenty-something.
The lingua franca in the town was Latin,
the only tongue I shared with Philippinas
and three nuns hailing out of far-off China
watching the sun set from Rocca Maggiore.
—Timothy Murphy
You have a decision to make: double or nothing.
For this week only, a generous supporter has offered to fully match all new and increased donations to First Things up to $60,000.
In other words, your gift of $50 unlocks $100 for First Things, your gift of $100 unlocks $200, and so on, up to a total of $120,000. But if you don’t give, nothing.
So what will it be, dear reader: double, or nothing?
Make your year-end gift go twice as far for First Things by giving now.
