Outside the Walls
Encountering God in the Unfamiliar
by
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Startled by a knock at my window, I turned and saw a Haitian woman, probably in her early twenties, pregnant, and, in one arm, and resting on one hip, was a young boy, presumably her son. We made eye contact ever so briefly and then I turned away. “Where is Cenat?” I said to myself. “Let’s get out of here!” I thought. And as my sense of discomfort moved into fear, there was a second knock at the window. I looked again. Then, ever so slowly, this young woman pointed to me, then pointed to the boy on her hip, then to her child in her womb, then to herself, and then up to the heavens, as if to say: “Hey, God sees you and you see me and my two kids, so please help us.” At that moment, though it was nearly ninety degrees out, I felt a chill run down my spine. I looked away again. Cenat finally came and we sped off to Petite Riviere. The experience haunted me for the entire time I was in Haiti. It still haunts me. God did see me in that moment. God does see me in each moment of my life. And God the Father is always calling me to be like God’s Son, Christ Jesus, not turning away from human suffering, but rather stepping into it, responding to it selflessly and generously with mercy.
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About the Book
Outside the Walls: Encountering God in the Unfamiliar, has simplicity and sagacity, compassion and challenge. In this conversational book, Fr. Paulli shares nine personal stories, which range from a humorous encounter with a nearly one-hundred-year-old woman, to a disturbing encounter with a desperately poor, pregnant Haitian woman. The sharing of these stories, and the reflections upon them, invite the reader to consider their own personal stories and how God can be encountered in and through them, often if they but “move outside the walls.” Furthermore, each chapter, in a way, stands alone allowing the reader to stay with it for as long as they want. Similarly, chapters can be revisited time and time again. Finally, each story, each chapter leads to a series of incisive questions and a prayer that will surely assist the reader in their spiritual journey for years to come.
About the Author
Fr. Paulli, a Franciscan priest of Holy Name Province for nearly thirty years, is a member of the First Year Seminar faculty, as well as an associate professor of education at Siena College, Loudonville, New York. He is a popular speaker at conferences, retreats, and parish missions across the United States. Fr. Paulli holds a bachelor’s degree in business from Siena College, a master’s degree in systematic theology from the Washington Theological Union, and a doctorate in religion and education from New York City’s Columbia University. Outside the Walls: Encountering God in the Unfamiliar is Fr. Paulli’s first published book.