Meet Mary...

Mary has wisdom for the ages for us all.

I met Mary as she was making the slow, cane-assisted, 8-10 block walk to church. She didn't know exactly where it was, or when the service began or how far she had to walk, or even if it was the Catholic church she was looking for. But she knew, that day, she needed to visit with God, and commented: 

"There's only one God anyway, right?"

She told me that she had never been married and her four brothers were looking down at her from heaven wondering what she was still doing here. At 94, I believe she may have been asking the very same question!

I offered to find the church and drive her there. As we drove, she said prayers of thanks to the good Lord for leading her to me. Upon our arrival, we see a bridal party exiting the sanctuary. 

"Oh look, there's a wedding going on," I said.
She replied, "That's ok! I'll wait in the back until it's over."
I smiled to myself.

I parked the car and scurried through the entrance and hallways, searching for an inconspicuous place to seat Mary.
A very helpful elderly sacristan directed me to the correct entrance and went with me to greet Mary.

As I assisted her up the stairs, she said, "You know, people really are good. There's a lot of bad ones, but really there are a lot more good ones."

That is my belief too, Mary.

The sacristan asked if she was Catholic and told her she had to wait an hour and a half until the service began.

Mary said, "That's OK! It'll give me time to pray."

"Are you planning to take communion?"

"Why, I don't know," Mary replied. "I had lunch."

The woman seated her in a front pew so communion could be delivered to her anyway.

I gave her a hug as I was leaving, stating that although I was not Catholic, I might be inclined to pay a visit to this beautiful church again. 

"After all, there's only one God, right?"

Mary looked me in the eye and said,

"No, there are many, many Gods."
 Amen, Mary. 

Right now, take a look in the mirror. Yes, indeed, there are many, many Gods. Each and every one of us.
What are you going to do each day to allow YOUR God to shine through?

Amen, my friends.
Live in love,
Carrie