Here is a song that refreshes my spirit – https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=WZ-Agbey040

All the blessings of the season, all the joy of this day, to all

 

Years ago, I wrote a short reflection on an experience I had when my children were very young. This short piece came to mind as I read the Word of the Week – I thought I would share it with you:

Bulletin Blurb

It was foolish of me – dangerous really. Blurry eyed with fever, blood in my urine, I had no business driving myself to the hospital at 2 a.m. But I could not bring myself to wake my husband. He would have insisted on driving and that would entail bringing our two children. The thought of carrying those tiny bodies to the car, strapping them into their car seats was too much for me. I lifted my jeans and a sweatshirt off the handle of the exer-cycle and silently slipped out of the bedroom.

The lights of St. Thomas’ emergency room were blinding – but I was not in the reception area long.  Out of nowhere a bevy of nurses materialized, whisked me into a room, began helping me out of my clothes, cuffing my arm and pumping up the blood pressure sleeve, recording my responses to the questions that were being fired at me, jamming a thermometer under my tongue. They were like gnats, all around me. Suddenly a doctor appeared, quietly asked a few questions – then all of them disappeared out the door.

I sat in the hospital bed dazed – more frightened than when I had first seen the bright red blood in the toilet bowl. Where had they gone? What was wrong with me? Why did they leave me completely alone? I stared at the door, willing someone to come back. But it remained closed; there was only silence.

Then I saw something, just above the door – the silver body; thin, elongated arms drooping off the wooden cross beam; the nail pinning two feet together. I was not alone in the room or in my suffering. God was right there with me.

Mary Anne has been an inspiration, a mentor, an messenger of the divine to me.
I know that such people leave a handprint on our hearts, a fragrance in our souls.
Simply saying “Thank you” to Mary Anne seems inadequate – yet that is the way on the spiritual journey, isn’t it?
We are given so much more than we can ever give back – Thank you Mary Anne. God is with you –
and you will remain with me.

I too sometime find it hard to accept help, ask for help. The idea of hospitality requiring both humility and gratitude as I surrender pride is a lovely challenge for me. Thank you –

Catherine and David strung lights around an outdoor patio, set a lovely table at which six of us could sit socially distanced, and prepared a fresh meal. Drew and I brought wine, Kay and Kevin brought a pie – we sat in the open air, drinking in each others’ company. Due to the continuing threat of covid 19, the six of us had not been together for many months. What made this gathering particularly memorable was Kay’s presence. She has a debilitating disease; she is no longer able to walk, does not have enough strength in her lungs to project her voice. Yet there was, smiling and nodding in response to questions.

How did I feel that evening? Grateful – for long standing friendships, for Kay’s courage, for Catherine and David’s hospitality. Hospitality created the space where we could gather and manifest love for each other.

For medical reasons, I have been very cautious about offer hospitality to many people since March. After just a bit of deep listening, I feel moved to take some pumpkin pie to the elderly widow at the end of the street.

 

 

To stay positive – I imagine that is hard when dealing with serious health issues.  You will be in my prayers, Alita.

A friend of mine recently had a doctor visit. A nurse asked her a battery of questions at the beginning of the exam -one of which was, “Have you felt down recently?” My friend said she responded a bit incredulously, ‘Yes, haven’t you?” This time of covid has shaken up my life – and sometimes i have felt sadness, a sense of grief. Yet it has also proven a time to keep vigil – to realize this is a day that the Lord has made; to watch and to listen with a new level of awareness. I have had to deal with the temptation to indulging in “mundane diversions” that numb my sensibilities. I hope that, by virtue of Centering Prayer and lectio divina, i am remaining open enough to receive Love and manifest that Love to those I encounter, mostly via zoom these days.

 

The times I am most given to turning in remembrance to God are times of great happiness and times of distress. What seems to be awakening in my recently is an openness to turn consciously toward Mystery more and more frequently.

I am also reminded of my need to seek help as I do go through difficult changes – times when I want God to take away the cup that is before me.

 

 

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