Francis of Assisi described his own formation in terms of a single radical act. His initial contact with Lady Poverty was a transforming event. Francis had a horror of lepers. But one day he couldn’t escape, or chose not to. He met one face to face. And he submitted himself to that forming encounter. Francis embraced the leper and kissed him. Fear died and conviction was born. Poverty was to be henceforth his school and his rule of life.

–Joan Puls, Every Bush Is Burning