Day of Celebration

Today is Mother Mary Joseph Birthday. 

(Mother Mary Joseph = Elizabeth Prout)

What a day of celebration, its like she made sure we all felt like her birthday was ours…. 

This morning I woke to that wonderful sense of celebration. The chill of winter has started to dull and the warmth of spring begins to fill the air. 
The birds sing a different song, still in harmony and singing with great joy. Leafs appear on barren trees, butterflies come out of their cocoon, flowers bursting from the ground giving the air a sweet smell. Animals emerge from their sleepy hollows to chit chat… A crisp mist greets the morning and on this morning the sense that I might be able to see all of this by the end of the day .. what a joyous feeling, sense of celebration and thanks to be embraced. 

Over the past few weeks I have learnt that a hand can speak so much, you can learn a lot from touching a persons hand if only you pay attention. Most spoke with grace, as I have learnt to accept hands offering help. When hands touch I can hear a faint echo of music, trails of sparks from times of joy, pulses of passion buried deep within that you can sense without using your eyes, a pure touch of kindness and compassion. Its a beautiful thing to be able to hold someones hand in moments of need, moments of uncertainty and moments of thanks. This sensing has become my way to see God beauty around me, its a gentle reminder that sight doesn't mean that I can't see!

This afternoon I was given the gift of sight back. Thanks be to God.

Its hard to put that feeling into words, of my world changing so dramatically after a month of not really been able to see; its like the most beautiful heart felt feeling that reaches all the way to your soul and takes your breath away, when you open your eyes to see the Lords beauty all around you reflect back onto you. I feel so close to the Lord seeing a little fraction of the beauty that he sees and what a wonderful, colorful, magical world we live in. How our english language really does lack words to describe his creation/master piece. 

Everything seems so new, from the smallest things like grey buildings that have light dancing off them, ink on paper that actually do form patterns of words, seeing every grain in the paving that the suns heat bounces off beaming back onto me as it guides me along and how can I even describe the beauty that stood before me in the grass, flowers, the new buds, the leafs that have fallen, the petals that smiled back at me as if they were in joyous celebration… the most smallest of things are visible, the things that we don't even think about like the door handle, the street signs, a smile, the detail on my skirt, the crisp clear bright world that when walking out the specialist was one I felt I have never seen before. 

Yet above all this the most heart moving thing to see once again is seeing peoples faces for the first time - or more so seeing the details of the faces I once saw, as I have found myself slowly forgetting the details and now see anew. 
Looking into familiar eyes, I can see change from the last time I saw them …. There is joy that runs so deep that one can only but help be contaminated. I can see a twinkle of wisdom, a glimmer of grace and the shine of hope growing along with always love and kindness that sinks straight into my heart. Its the most beautiful moment to be able to see loved ones, actually see them, beaming with joy and Christ love, as we all celebrate the simple yet powerful gift of sight. 

What a beautiful gift to be given on Mother Mary Joseph birthday. I feel like she is watching down on me and protecting me, reminding me to keep my eyes fix on Christ, regardless of been able to physically see or not. Teaching me to learn from those around me who share in a daily celebration and embrace them with all my heart, mind and been. 
In true Elizabeth style she gives rather than receives on her day, I thank the Lord deeply for blessing us with her, let her walk the journey she did and she continues to teach us all even to this day. 

On a day like today I wonder what song she would be singing, I don't think that Western (or even Christian) art or music would be able to provide the lyrics or tune to her beautiful melody. A women full of courage, mercy, hope and love. I acknowledge that circumstances for outreach of our foundress spirit are a little different now, but in her day she planted seeds with the Lords guidance that enable Sisters to respond to the needs of their time. In order that they might thrive in community and in society, she encouraged us all to cultivate the presence of God. I have learnt that she has entrust with us the gifts of her intrepid spirit, her expansiveness of mind and her heart, entreating us not only to love one another but indeed to see one another as God sees them. 

So today I give thanks to the Lord for the gift of sight, yet more than this I give thanks for blessing us with Mother Mary Joseph who formed a path for us to step upon and I pray that she continues to teach all of us and her spirt to look down on us as we continue to journey the path together. 

Thanks be to God.