Thank you for these beautiful heartfelt thoughts, as I am walking through this spiritual journey, I want to be able open my heart, eyes, and ears to be able understand others in their faith walk. I believe it can only strengthen my own journey.
Thank you for this story of your participation in the ceremony of blessing and prayer. Your description of it and your honest telling of your journey through your feelings about it opened my heart and made me cry.
In 2016, I was alone in a stark hallway of an ICU where Drs were fighting to keep my son alive. My head was against the wall as I cried when I heard a voice say, “I love your sweater.” I looked up to see a smiling face and said, “thank you” as she opened the door to the ICU and went in. A few moments later I heard the door again and then that same voice behind me, “Honey, are you okay?” That started a flood of tears of not at all okay but also of the compassion of this amazingly kind stranger who listened & held me as I talked. Her name was Octavia and she was a transgender woman who was with Larry (her partner) who was dying of leukemia in the ICU. Octavia became an Angel to me over the next week as we fought for my son….she brought me cards & went to pray w me in the chapel…. She was God’s personal emissary to my heart….even in the midst of her own pain. I will never forget her. So yes, perhaps our eyes are most able to see God when our souls are stripped bare.
And a look into how fundamentalist teachings of our youth can reach up and grab us unexpectedly. Loved how you pushed thru and found a blessing so beautiful.
I felt pure love coming from Shaman Merchan's blessings. I like to think for him sending out blessings from Ecuador, equal distance from the north and south, the winds meeting together. What a statement of God's presence and power! Love it. Thank you for sharing. (I also, coming from a similar background to yours, would have had a moment. I'm so glad you received the experience.)
Oh this price makes me smile Jeff. Your writing is so good! I love the parts about WWJD. Yes. The old evangie in me would say that. But what a blessing to revive this time with that shaman. Life is so much richer than I ever thought when I was growing up in the evangie bubble. Thanks for sharing so honestly amd beautifully with us. And no bueno Spanish. 😉
I love this whole story, but particularly the story of your encounter with the shaman. I love that he too, refers to the Holy Spirit as big enough to hold all things and that we can find spirit wherever we travel
I don't think there's anything wrong with asking what Jesus might do in a situation - he was a pretty wise guy. You just don't need a wristband to help you!
This was so lovely. What an honor and gift to be included in the ritual and blessing. My Spanish serves me most for informal names for objects and cursing, plus foods. You know, the essentials.
When you wrote, “I’m opposed to mandatory fun.” I never expected the post to go where it did. It was beautiful and probably just what I needed today. Thank you. It also looks like you'll be in NC when the sun has decided to return after a week of rain.
"May our prayers meet the heart of hearts" - I love that. Thank you for your writing, which is always eloquent and honest.
Thank you, Jeff, for the gift of your words.
I like this a lot.
Where William James left off, Jeff Chu resumes.
Thank you for these beautiful heartfelt thoughts, as I am walking through this spiritual journey, I want to be able open my heart, eyes, and ears to be able understand others in their faith walk. I believe it can only strengthen my own journey.
Thank you for this story of your participation in the ceremony of blessing and prayer. Your description of it and your honest telling of your journey through your feelings about it opened my heart and made me cry.
In 2016, I was alone in a stark hallway of an ICU where Drs were fighting to keep my son alive. My head was against the wall as I cried when I heard a voice say, “I love your sweater.” I looked up to see a smiling face and said, “thank you” as she opened the door to the ICU and went in. A few moments later I heard the door again and then that same voice behind me, “Honey, are you okay?” That started a flood of tears of not at all okay but also of the compassion of this amazingly kind stranger who listened & held me as I talked. Her name was Octavia and she was a transgender woman who was with Larry (her partner) who was dying of leukemia in the ICU. Octavia became an Angel to me over the next week as we fought for my son….she brought me cards & went to pray w me in the chapel…. She was God’s personal emissary to my heart….even in the midst of her own pain. I will never forget her. So yes, perhaps our eyes are most able to see God when our souls are stripped bare.
So interesting... and such a great insight.
And a look into how fundamentalist teachings of our youth can reach up and grab us unexpectedly. Loved how you pushed thru and found a blessing so beautiful.
Jeff, You are outstanding in your writing. D
I felt pure love coming from Shaman Merchan's blessings. I like to think for him sending out blessings from Ecuador, equal distance from the north and south, the winds meeting together. What a statement of God's presence and power! Love it. Thank you for sharing. (I also, coming from a similar background to yours, would have had a moment. I'm so glad you received the experience.)
Oh this price makes me smile Jeff. Your writing is so good! I love the parts about WWJD. Yes. The old evangie in me would say that. But what a blessing to revive this time with that shaman. Life is so much richer than I ever thought when I was growing up in the evangie bubble. Thanks for sharing so honestly amd beautifully with us. And no bueno Spanish. 😉
I love this whole story, but particularly the story of your encounter with the shaman. I love that he too, refers to the Holy Spirit as big enough to hold all things and that we can find spirit wherever we travel
I don't think there's anything wrong with asking what Jesus might do in a situation - he was a pretty wise guy. You just don't need a wristband to help you!
This was so lovely. What an honor and gift to be included in the ritual and blessing. My Spanish serves me most for informal names for objects and cursing, plus foods. You know, the essentials.
When you wrote, “I’m opposed to mandatory fun.” I never expected the post to go where it did. It was beautiful and probably just what I needed today. Thank you. It also looks like you'll be in NC when the sun has decided to return after a week of rain.
“May peace settle in all our hearts and spill over to all others.” 💗