The priest at my little faith community experienced a serious stroke earlier this year, followed by another intracranial bleed, additional complications, surgeries and a grim prognosis.
Miracles do happen; prayers are answered.
Watching Peter’s miraculous progress month by month has been incredibly inspiring to witness.
On Christmas Eve, our beloved pastor gave the homily. Since the stroke his thoughts and expressions are marvelously transparent and go unfiltered. In the past, Peter said he might have been concerned about how others viewed him, or with wanting to impress people with his knowledge.
All this has vanished now and what remains is a pure unconditional love and his wonderful humor.
What touched me most, is how Fr. Peter sees everyone through a sacred lens. He described how we are all spirits before our birth in human form and that each person is a real treasure to truly cherish. The sincerity and beauty of his message lingers still.
How often do we forget this truth?
Our relationships with the people who enter our lives offer us gifts beyond measure that help us grow and learn something in the process.
A childhood memory of mine is walking to church on Sunday mornings with my mom and brother Tom. Afterwards we would stop by my grandmother’s house for our weekly visit. There we were warmly greeted with hugs and kisses by my elderly grandmother, Kate, Uncle John & Aunt Mary. I recall fondly now, (although I did not fully appreciate this at the time) how all three would come to the doorway to wave as we took our leave, standing there watching until we were out of sight. It was a small but sweet gesture and a tender expression of love.
When all is said and done what do we remember? Perhaps, the ways we opened our hearts and shared our love as best and as imperfectly as we were able? And to ask for forgiveness for the ways we fell short.
I thought I would share this poem by Sr. Claire who I have the privilege to know as a friend and as someone I love and adore…
Christmas is a time for remembering
That love is eternal and friendship forever.
A time to forget the hurt and the pain
And taste all the joys of love once again.
To know the meaning of the Christ child’s birth
Is to know that He came to bring love to the earth.
“That all may be one, O Father,” He prayed.
We must forgive and forget the mistakes that were made.
Let’s just share and relish this time while it lasts
And give praise and thanks as each moment flies past,
For we know that one day the anguish and pain,
The fear and the sorrow will be turned into gain.
And then we will know the fullness of life
Its mystery will vanish and so will all strife
For at the moment we will discover HIM in each other!
Poem by Sister Claire Olivier, CSJ
Jubilee Journal © 2012
Wishing you happiness in the grand celebration of all that you are,
with thanksgiving for all the love & friendship we have shared.
Happy New Year to all!
In peace,
Liz Sorensen Wessel
Journal of Sacred Work 
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