Holy moments
The alarm never went off because I was already awake.
The sky was gray and yet every so often the sun tried to peak out.
“What Unites Us” by Dan Rather was being played through the speakers in the car.
Conversations with my dad as we made our way together to see Emma for the first time after admitting her to McCallum Place on Monday, December 4th.
Moments of brutal honesty that gave a sliver of light that perhaps something was being heard and a clink in the armor of defense might have been made. Watching and listening, wondering if the slightest bit of self confidence was slinking into her heart and mind.
Therapist that see and hear what you see and hear. A team of physicians gathered around your child wanting the best for her as they stay longer than the allotted time (even being late to pick up their own children from aftercare or daycare) to lead your child out of fear into faith.
Being told that Emma was eligible for two passes. Two hours on Friday, just enough time to get out and see some of St. Louis which will more than likely just be hanging out at the local mall and window shopping as well as people watching. Four hours on Saturday, to visit her favorite place...the Zoo.
Noticing a new dad sitting at the end of the table with his daughter at visiting hours and then running into him again in the very same hotel, on the same floor. When you get to stand in the hallway, talk to a stranger and yet find a unity in that your daughters are plagued with a disordered way of eating and that it’s not just a matter of mind over matter but speak frankly about how difficult it is. Book suggestions from the dad who isn’t knew to this road even though it was his first night dropping off his daughter at McCallum. Finding a book on Amazon that seems to reach in the heart and soul of what your daughter might be experiencing and being able to click one button and have it immediately at your finger tips at 4 o’clock in the morning.
Sitting in the hotel lobby trying to capture the words that are to be spoken to a congregation on this third Sunday of Advent. Your fingers holding the pen and gliding it across the page with words that seem so shallow and yet you keep thinking if I can only get something down I will be able to put the meat to it later when my mind is quiet.
An unexpected conversation with someone else sitting in the lobby of the hotel that gives way for another person {who turns out to be a hotel employee}to enter into the conversation and ask deeper questions about something she overheard about OCD. Listening to her questions and then being ale to answer with honesty about how it affects my own sweet teenager. With the exchange of words, emotions begin to take over and tears fall from her eyes. There is realization that she has had OCD her entire life but never knew why her brain functioned the way it did, it’s paralyzing her today and her job is on the line.
Unexpected holy moments are envelope us. They offer us grace. They offer us community. They offer us the arms of embrace. Look around today....what unexpected holy moments have you experienced? Where do you need to open yourself up to the world, people, compassion and love that is being offered?
Being told that Emma was eligible for two passes. Two hours on Friday, just enough time to get out and see some of St. Louis which will more than likely just be hanging out at the local mall and window shopping as well as people watching. Four hours on Saturday, to visit her favorite place...the Zoo.
Noticing a new dad sitting at the end of the table with his daughter at visiting hours and then running into him again in the very same hotel, on the same floor. When you get to stand in the hallway, talk to a stranger and yet find a unity in that your daughters are plagued with a disordered way of eating and that it’s not just a matter of mind over matter but speak frankly about how difficult it is. Book suggestions from the dad who isn’t knew to this road even though it was his first night dropping off his daughter at McCallum. Finding a book on Amazon that seems to reach in the heart and soul of what your daughter might be experiencing and being able to click one button and have it immediately at your finger tips at 4 o’clock in the morning.
Sitting in the hotel lobby trying to capture the words that are to be spoken to a congregation on this third Sunday of Advent. Your fingers holding the pen and gliding it across the page with words that seem so shallow and yet you keep thinking if I can only get something down I will be able to put the meat to it later when my mind is quiet.
An unexpected conversation with someone else sitting in the lobby of the hotel that gives way for another person {who turns out to be a hotel employee}to enter into the conversation and ask deeper questions about something she overheard about OCD. Listening to her questions and then being ale to answer with honesty about how it affects my own sweet teenager. With the exchange of words, emotions begin to take over and tears fall from her eyes. There is realization that she has had OCD her entire life but never knew why her brain functioned the way it did, it’s paralyzing her today and her job is on the line.
Unexpected holy moments are envelope us. They offer us grace. They offer us community. They offer us the arms of embrace. Look around today....what unexpected holy moments have you experienced? Where do you need to open yourself up to the world, people, compassion and love that is being offered?
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