Richard Rohr, in Everything Belongs: The Gift of Contemplative Prayer, writes wisely, "Meaning is not created; it is discovered. It's already there. It's an enchanted universe; there is nothing new under the sun in terms of the soul. … Religion is always about love. All we can do is get out of the way."

Today, I sat for a while with Mary. She is recovering from hip surgery, again. I sat and let myself relax in the chair. I listened to her. I read her favorite chapter from the Bible—Philippians 4; I would look up and see her face smiling, especially when I read her favorite verses on faith. I noticed how meaningful, enchanting, and loving was our sharing together. I prayed for her, my hand on her head, and sensed the Presence of God with us. I left admiring the feeling of fulfillment given to my life by those few moments. To me, those minutes with Mary affirm what Rohr says. And, like he notes, when it comes to love, I need simply to get out of the way. When I do, Love loves through me. I cannot take credit for what I felt today when visiting Mary, for it is simply the way true Life always is and always has been.

*Feb 15.2006

Now, a little over ten years since the above musing, I sit with persons who are dying, and I sit with their families. I have sat with dear loved ones for months following the death, to provide presence and guidance. I am no longer a Pastor, as then. I found the politics and conflicts of pastoral work, as well as the resistance to openness to Truth, not a place I wanted to work daily. Now, I am blessed to love and be loved from where the dying are, and without an agenda based on religious or spiritual ideology. To love freely is refreshing and refreshes both those served and the one through whom Spirit moves to anoint with silent Grace those reaching out for comfort and assurance. I am just a conduit, nothing more and nothing less, and I am content with that.

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