This afternoon I visited a friend in the hospital for about an hour. She is a woman who welcomed me into my parish when I started going. I told her that today—that I was so grateful for her and her husband. In life, we do not always recognize holy moments until another one faces us. She is dying and I am so sad that she is yet another one of the elders from my community that is bidding us adieu.
She had a few teary moments as we spoke. Sadly, she is losing her memory. During my 50-minute visit, she repeated herself a few times and was confused about a couple of things but in the same breath, still delighted in life. I had brought my photo book from my Alaskan cruise and sat with her, tenderly helping her turn the pages. She was engaged and told stories about her younger days. At one point, she paid me a compliment that I will hold dearly for a long time. I had laughed at something she said and responded with, “Oh, I don’t know where time goes sometimes!” Without skipping a beat, she looked me in the eyes and with great affection and seriousness replied, “I know where it goes with you: you spend your time doing good and helping others.” She has known me half of my life and so her words meant a great deal to me. Her eyes welled up and she admitted that she was sad she would not be there to help me next Christmas with the annual Bereavement Service.
I have been so blessed by people welcoming me into my church community, calling forth my gifts and creating me to be a person who knows that everything that lives is holy and I simply need to open my eyes to that. I pray that I may always delight in life.
Pray for those who are sick and dying—in thanksgiving for the lessons you have learned from them and for the gifts they will leave behind.
Peace,
Suzanne
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