However, this morning something changed! I began to feel the stirrings of something new. Lots of wonderful prayer-sharing encounters in the past two weeks and before. Shame not to document some of them at least. All of them touching my heart in the deepest way.
Like the Vietnam war Veteran in Time Square who held my hand as we both prayed my powerful prayer together. Elderly smart lady who is not religious but will use my prayer for a bookmark. Chatting with homeless folk whenever, wherever, never gets old. They delight my soul.
Guy in St.Patrick’s Cathedral. ‘We will meet in Heaven’, I told him as he held my prayer to his heart. ‘I am not very confident of that’, he replied sadly. ‘Perhaps Holy Spirit is telling you otherwise now’, I told him. Unforgettable!
Killian reminded me to leave my prayer in Ground Zero. What a privilege.
Polish Guy, Cork city, power hosing the pavement. ‘Would you like a lovely prayer I share with young people’, I asked. ‘But I am not a junky’, he replied laughingly, accepting my prayer. Funny mistake! I laughed too repeating what I had actually said: ‘young people’.
On a serious note though, how terrible it would have been had young pleasant guy said nothing believing I had said ‘junkies’. I would have continued along my merry prayer-sharing way oblivious to the distress I had unwittingly brought about. Thank you God for everything. It does not bear thinking about!
Young guy bounding along the steep staircase, looks back and asks: ‘Do you need help’. ‘Please’, I reply, ‘my back is really sore’. Off he goes with my suitcase at the speed of notts. Accepting my prayer, young smashing guy reads it through, aloud, before telling me in all seriousness; ‘You have done me a far greater favour than I have done for you. You just reminded me of Him’, pointing to the sky. Divine appointment!
American lady in Church today so joyfully taken aback with my prayer offering, could only utter: ‘Do you like hugs…….’.
Medugorje Nursing Home. Precious elderly folk, all of them knowing intense suffering in their long lives. Communism, war, to mention but a few. I sat in their midst unable to speak their language. Neither could they speak mine. Despite all of that, and maybe even because of it! we enjoyed amazingly beautiful ❤️encounter. Smiling, crying , laughing and praying. I shall never forget it, ever.
The ❤️ has an inner ear! H-EAR-T.
All summer long (and even today) groups from far-flung lands visiting our Church. Almost every time, I get to chat with one person who takes enough prayers to share with fellow-passengers. I ask that they not share until everyone is back on their bus and on the go again. That way they will know wonderful Holy Spirit is doing a new thing. I merely and gratefully His messenger!
Exquisite German couple in Church who proudly told me that soon their daughter will be ordained a priest just like me! Anglican. I did not tell them that I am not a priest and never hope to be one. To be who I am is more than enough, thank God.
Lady, on warmly accepting my prayer, asked if she could please have seventeen. One for each of her grandchildren.
Moments in time that mean the world to me. Lately as I read back over older blogs I am so glad I wrote them. Yes, I am happy to be back. The yield of doing what we are meant to be doing is sheer joy.
What if we look at one another like a sunset!!
‘Non nobis solum nati sumus’ (Not for ourselves alone are we born). (Cicero)
O my God! How can I love You as You deserve. If people but knew You, they would never offend You. They would love you too much to do so. Amen. (St. Ignatius of Loyola)
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