A LESSON froM CINDA:
Last week Reverend Carol presented a rosary to the congregation and blessed it for my Grandson, who is planning a career in the military. So here is the back story… Many years ago a friend of my son had an audience with Pope John Paul (now St. John Paul) and during that audience my son’s friend had the Pope bless several Rosaries. Upon his return to the US, my son’s friend gifted some of those rosaries to my children and me. I pray that rosary often, not perfectly, but often, and rely on it as my steady connection to God, Jesus and Mary outside of church. Fast forward to a few weeks ago when I learned that my grandson was graduating with honors from New Mexico Military Institute Junior College and had received full scholarships to Syracuse and Tulane to finish college thus far. What does a grandmother get for a 20-year old soldier-to-be who is heading out into the world? He has money, intelligence, determination, a girlfriend and a plan for his future. I decided he needed to take God with him on his journey so I purchased a small rosary and case that he could carry in his pocket or backpack and had it blessed by Reverend Carol. I don’t know if he is religious. I don’t know if he has been baptized. I don’t know if he prays. I do know that there will come a day when he will not have an answer to a question… when he will not be so self-assured… when he may be in fear for himself and/or others. Hence I will gift him with something that will outlast his lifetime… a simple rosary. Because at the base of that rosary is a crucifix to remind my grandson that he has been forgiven his transgressions and is always loved… something tangible that he can rely on to know that he is never alone…
A GoD MOMENT FROM CINDA:
Each of us receives messages from God in so many different ways. Here is one that I received at church this morning: Steve and I went to church today for the 8 AM service as always and also to celebrate our 36th Wedding anniversary that is coming up this week. 36 years ago when he and I were preparing to get married we met with the pastor of the church we were attending in Albuquerque and one of the questions we were asked was what hymns we wanted played at our wedding. Steve had lost his Mother many years before we were married and his Father had donated Spanish trumpet pipes for the new church organ in 1972, in honor of Steve’s Mother. Steve asked that “Ode to Joy” be played as the recession to our wedding to honor the memory of his Mother because the Spanish trumpets are a large part of that song. This was 1981, long before “Ode to Joy” was played at weddings and I recall the minister looking puzzled and advising us that “Ode to Joy” was not a usual request for weddings. Steve told him the story of the Spanish trumpet organ pipes and the minister agreed to have “Ode to Joy” played at the end of our wedding.
Fast forward to this past week; St. Tim’s computer was down and as Steve was preparing the bulletin for this Sunday’s 8 AM service he noted that there was a duplicate in hymn numbers. He asked Reverend Carol for clarification on the duplicate hymns and Reverend Carol texted our organist, Maryann, wherein Maryann texted Steve “Joyful Joyful”, e.g., the final hymn of the service #376 - “Ode to Joy”! Please note there are over 700 hymns in our hymn book. Also, Maryann did not change the second to last hymn, just the last one – why did she text “Joyful Joyful” and why did she replace the last Hymn and not the second to last one – and only for the 8AM service?
So there I am in church this morning having completed the service and I stand up with Steve to sing the final hymn. He opens the book and shows me it is “Ode to Joy” that begins with the words “Joyful Joyful – we adore thee” – yes, I started to cry and didn’t stop until the hymn ended. Then it was time to receive the Anniversary blessing from Reverend Carol and the attendees. Upon leaving the sanctuary, I relayed the above “God Moment” to Reverend Carol and Reverend Deacon John and asked if I could share it with everyone.
There are these moments in our lives where the Holy Spirit showers us with God’s love… “Ode to Joy” was permitted to be played at our wedding in 1981, even though it was an unusual choice of music but did allow us to honor Steve’s deceased Mother; internet not working; this past week was the first time in years that a duplication of hymns was noted and needed to be resolved; and Maryann choosing to replace the last hymn for the 8AM service to “Joyful Joyful” and not the second to last hymn; all on the day Steve and I are celebrating our 36th wedding anniversary. Some people would call all this coincidence but I know better. The Lord blessed Steve and me 36 years ago and put us together to live our lives as one, today he reminded us that we are not alone, not then, not ever for He, Jesus and the Holy Spirit are ALWAYS with us and he has blessed us once again.
Fast forward to this past week; St. Tim’s computer was down and as Steve was preparing the bulletin for this Sunday’s 8 AM service he noted that there was a duplicate in hymn numbers. He asked Reverend Carol for clarification on the duplicate hymns and Reverend Carol texted our organist, Maryann, wherein Maryann texted Steve “Joyful Joyful”, e.g., the final hymn of the service #376 - “Ode to Joy”! Please note there are over 700 hymns in our hymn book. Also, Maryann did not change the second to last hymn, just the last one – why did she text “Joyful Joyful” and why did she replace the last Hymn and not the second to last one – and only for the 8AM service?
So there I am in church this morning having completed the service and I stand up with Steve to sing the final hymn. He opens the book and shows me it is “Ode to Joy” that begins with the words “Joyful Joyful – we adore thee” – yes, I started to cry and didn’t stop until the hymn ended. Then it was time to receive the Anniversary blessing from Reverend Carol and the attendees. Upon leaving the sanctuary, I relayed the above “God Moment” to Reverend Carol and Reverend Deacon John and asked if I could share it with everyone.
There are these moments in our lives where the Holy Spirit showers us with God’s love… “Ode to Joy” was permitted to be played at our wedding in 1981, even though it was an unusual choice of music but did allow us to honor Steve’s deceased Mother; internet not working; this past week was the first time in years that a duplication of hymns was noted and needed to be resolved; and Maryann choosing to replace the last hymn for the 8AM service to “Joyful Joyful” and not the second to last hymn; all on the day Steve and I are celebrating our 36th wedding anniversary. Some people would call all this coincidence but I know better. The Lord blessed Steve and me 36 years ago and put us together to live our lives as one, today he reminded us that we are not alone, not then, not ever for He, Jesus and the Holy Spirit are ALWAYS with us and he has blessed us once again.
