PHOTO:Mary van Balen
“BROTHER, SISTER, LET ME SERVE YOU; LET ME BE AS CHRIST TO YOU; PRAY THAT I MAY HAVE THE GRACE TO LET YOU BE MY SERVANT, TOO.”
QUOTES: ‘The Servant Song’by Richard Gillard, 1977 Text and Music copyright ©1977 Scripture in Song (Admin. by Maranatha! Music) Hear song sung by composer
My heart moved within me as I sung this song at Mass today. Truly, I have received grace to accept to gift of Christ given to me through many others in my life and especially over the past months.
“WE ARE PILGRIMS ON A JOURNEY, WE ARE FAMILY ON THE ROAD; WE ARE HERE TO HELP EACH OTHER WALK THE MILE AND BEAR THE LOAD.”
The mile we walk and the load we carry changes as time flows by. The friends who walk with us at one moment are not always the same ones who companion us later, but their gift of support remains. We are strong support for others during some stages of life, and at different stages we need support in ways that surprise us.
“I WILL HOLD THE CHRIST-LIGHT FOR YOU IN THE NIGHT TIME OF YOUR FEAR; I WILL HOLD MY HAND OUT TO YOU, SPEAK THE PEACE YOU LONG TO HEAR.”
Some people hold the Christ Light in a public way, like civil rights activists Robert and Jeannie Graetz. Others do so in a quiet way. My spiritual director was such a light for me recently when I needed humility to accept myself as I am, not as I wish I were, and to trust that God loves my wounded self and not some image of holiness that I strive for. Accepting one’s brokenness is a grace, not an excuse to remain static, but the peace of accepting where one is on the journey. Loving the wounded self is a step forward.
I WILL WEEP WHEN YOU ARE WEEPING; WHEN YOU LAUGH I’LL LAUGH WITH YOU. I WILL SHARE YOUR JOY AND SORROW TIL WE SEE THIS JOURNEY THROUGH.”
An old friend and I sat on a pew after church and caught up. Her faith and affection were sweet as the Eucharist to my soul.
A stranger surprised me with blessings and empathy when I walked with her into a trashed fitting room at the department store where I work. “I used to work in retail, too, so I understand. This will be your job tonight, putting all this stuff back.” I nodded. “This is my first expereince in retail. I have been a educator and author.”
“There are many ways to serve,” she said as we left the mess behind us. “Blessings on your writing.”
I give thanks for Grace from unexpected places as well as from family and friends, and pray that like them, I may be as Christ to others as my journey continues.
© 2010 Mary van Balen
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