First of all, on my birthday I went with Kim to the walk the labyrinth at OSU on that rainy morning. It was so perfect and when the walk was over, the rain was gone and I felt surrounded by beauty and spring. During the walk, I heard the word "Threshhold" and it felt like I am on this threshold of a new life. There is the grief of goodbye to the old with Chuck and the wonder and mystery to what the new life will be. But it was a clear and hopeful message.
Yesterday we had a family party and I received the amazing gifts of a book (by Marnie) and a movie (created by Audrey) in my honor. The pictures and messages from friends just reminded me of the blessing of these past 70 years. It has been a wonderful gracefilled journey. And I really felt bathed in love. I loved the title of the book: "Margot's Book of Life so far...." So much hope for the future that there is more to come.
Today is Easter. I read the message from Joan Chittister that says this:
"Resurrection testifies to the metamorphosis of the Jesus of history to the christ of faith. It is about coming to grips with the transformed and transforming presence of Christ then, now, and always.Once that happens, life is never again the same. Life begins anew.....
When one new phase of life ends, a new one arises, if we do not spend too much time grieving the one before it, if we allow new grace to flow through us."
I will end with this blessing by John O Donohue called For Your Birthday (Thanks Kim, for the suggestion)
Feb 19, 2017
For Your Birthday
Blessed be the mind that dreamed the day
The blueprint of your life
Would begin to glow on earth,
Illuminating all the faces and voices
That would arrive to invite
Your soul to growth.
The blueprint of your life
Would begin to glow on earth,
Illuminating all the faces and voices
That would arrive to invite
Your soul to growth.
Praised be your father and mother,
Who loved you before you were,
And trusted to call you here
With no idea who you would be.
Who loved you before you were,
And trusted to call you here
With no idea who you would be.
Blessed be those who have loved you
Into becoming who you were meant to be,
Blessed be those who have crossed your life
With dark gifts of hurt and loss
That have helped to school your mind
In the art of disappointment.
Into becoming who you were meant to be,
Blessed be those who have crossed your life
With dark gifts of hurt and loss
That have helped to school your mind
In the art of disappointment.
When desolation surrounded you,
Blessed be those who lookoed for you
And found you, their kind hands
Urgent to open a blue window
In the gray wall formed around you.
Blessed be those who lookoed for you
And found you, their kind hands
Urgent to open a blue window
In the gray wall formed around you.
Blessed be the gifts you never notice,
Your health, eyes to behold the world,
Thoughts to countenance the unknown,
Memory to harvest vanished days,
Your heart to feel the world's waves,
Your breath to breathe the nourishment
Of distance made intimate by earth.
Your health, eyes to behold the world,
Thoughts to countenance the unknown,
Memory to harvest vanished days,
Your heart to feel the world's waves,
Your breath to breathe the nourishment
Of distance made intimate by earth.
On this echoing-day of your birth,
May you open the gift of solitude
In order to receive your soul;
Enter the generosity of silence
To hear your hidden heart;
Know the serenity of stillness
To be enfolded anew
By the miracle of your being.
-John O'Donohue
May you open the gift of solitude
In order to receive your soul;
Enter the generosity of silence
To hear your hidden heart;
Know the serenity of stillness
To be enfolded anew
By the miracle of your being.
-John O'Donohue
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