Blessings

We have a new massage therapist at Heartland. She was of the Jewish faith, I believe, but no longer. She does work including with chakras, energy and Reiki. She had not done hospice work before.

We have all been visiting and supporting a new patient that has great difficulty with her only daughter. When I visit and say a prayer, she responds, "That is so peaceful" and I am blessed that the Godde of peace and healing is present.

So when the MT made her first visit this week, she "saw" an angel on the bed with the patient. I was told this by the patient's nurse. So our MT is somewhat taken aback. Reality is much larger than we accept "as the cultural paradigm" and "the reign of Godde is now" not some other place, not in the future, but now, here where you and I are sitting right this minute. And you do have an angel by your side.

Tonight St. Gertrude's parish had is Communal Penance service. For those who are not RC, one goes to a priest and "confesses" a sin, problem, concern. If needed the priest gives absolution in the name of God. (RC's used to have a lower rate of suicide given this practice. with the falloff of going to reconciliation; suicide rates of RC's I think now approach the norm of the population. Read this some time ago.)

Anyway, I struggle with not being able to forgive myself for actions (toxic relationship with Dow) during my marriage and raising of my children, especially Jason. So my confession went like this: Father I ask healing, that I might be able to forgive myself for my actions/relationships in my marriage and my raising of my children. He replied, "We know that God was with you. That we need to experience some of these things. We do not know why." "For your penance," and this is what surprised and shocked me, "Please pray for my family, my brother shot my SIL, then turned the gun on himself." Now this is A penance! not any "Hail Mary's" stuff. He gently unbound my hands from the cloth I had wrapped around them as a "symbol" of my being bound up in some way.

I felt as if he were confessing to me, because of what I shared with him; that I would understand and not judge, but pray for healing for himself and his family. I promised that I would and gave him a hug. We were standing in church face to face.

So now I ask you to join me in these prayers for healing for this family. May they in time be healed of this terrible wounding just as I pray for healing for my children and Dow. Pray for us that we might all celebrate new life this Easter.