Thursday, September 13, 2018

Dear God,

How could it be that a bag lady would become the face of Jesus to me? 

I was preparing to lead a retreat at the Abbey of Gethsemani in Kentucky but my heart was full of sorrow, loss and grief.  I barely could care for myself let alone prepare a retreat for 20 women.  And so you sent Madeline, a homeless woman from New York City who saw a picture of the retreat center in a newspaper then went out and bought herself a used skirt and a one-way ticket to Kentucky.  When the monk arrived to pick her up after her call, he realized she was not a member of my retreat group.  But over the course of the weekend, Madeline, a former concert pianist from Europe who had come to America with her parents a long time before and had become homeless after her parents died, and I came together.  With all her belongings in a black trash bag, she sat beside me during our meals.  Her room was next to mine.  She asked me to take her to WalMart so she could get cleaning supplies to clean her room.  She invited me into her room for a little chat.  Although it was clear she had psychological problems, still she offered you to me.

Days after the retreat I returned home and shared my story with a woman with ALS.  When she heard about my new friend, she asked her daughter to get a doll she was given years ago.  When she gave it to me, she said her name was Madeline.  That was many years ago.

Yesterday a friend asked me to tell her about the doll that sat on my bed in the chimney room.  Tears filled my eyes as I remembered the dear woman who brought Jesus to me.

I will always
be grateful
to you,
Living God,
for the gift
of Madeline.
Who knew
you would go
so far
to bring
your son
to me?
Thank you,
thank you,
thank you.
Glory to you,
Lord,
all glory
to you.

Love, Andrea