Chasing Francis Daily!

Most of the time when I'm making my chaplaincy rounds at the hospitals I am wearing my "Franciscan cross".  The most common name for the cross is a "Tau Cross".  Having been used by several early church fathers but most notably by St Francis.  Anyhow, a few days ago at Ashland I met a wonderful woman undergoing cancer treatment named Mary.  She had a great attitude toward life and we had a wonderful discussion.  In the course of our talk I mentioned the cross.  She questioned me as to why it was called a "Tao" cross.  I never realized that the Tau would so easily be confused with the Tao religion of the East.  However the comparison may not be so far off, actually. 
The Mystical tradition shared by modern contemplatives as well as the likes of Sts Francis and Clair are very tuned to the totality of Gods presence in all of creation.  Now listen to a very simple definition of the Tao religion.  "Tao can be roughly stated to be the "flow" of the universe, or the force behind the natural order.  Believed to be the influence that keeps the universe balanced and ordered.  Tao is associated with nature, due to a belief that nature demonstrates the Tao." 
Sounds very Franciscan to me.  The video above is shot in the town of Assisi, Italy.  The audio seems to be a little skewed but the scenery and memories are beautiful.  Pax Christi!  Roberto Vincente