The Surprise of Delight

Before me, may it be delightful.

Behind me, may it be delightful.

Around me, may it be delightful.

Below me, may it be delightful.

Above me, may it be delightful.

All, may it be delightful.

               -Navajo  Prayer

I can picture this Navajo prayer being composed while perched on top

of  a towering rock while surrounded by a vast green valley visible on all sides below,

 and a clear blue sky dressed with puffy puffy white clouds all above. 

In that space, in that moment, one would surely be surounded by delight!

I pondered the discovery of being surrounded by delight

in a more challenging time,

and the strangest memory came to me.

I remembered being at the Stations of the Cross as a young Nun

just a few weeks after my Mother had died from cancer.

There was a moment in the prayer where we were praying for those who were no longer

with us, and my breath seemed to pass away for a moment.

Then, I felt the warmth of a hand reaching forward from  behind me

and softly resting on my shoulder....softly and gently pulling me back to the present

living, loving moment. 

It was a program friend who had quietly slipped into the church to join us in prayer.

 It was the simplest of moments,

but one that has stayed alive with me for these many years.

It was as if the God within, and the God with Skin, and the Body of Christ that is Chuch all came together as ONE ... and I felt at complete peace and complete connection and complete Oneness.

What a strange moment to be called a memory of delight.  I wonder what that is about?

  I think it is about love ...

at that very moment I felt love enter into a a painful wound of loss,

and the love was healing and warming and unexpected...

yes, it was delightful.

What a surpise!

Love, Cate