“Letters from Canada – 23 Miracles” February 2015
(“Father Mark Miller: Susan Mayo, Tom Colbert, and Linda Harriet make up my inner circle. With Susan, a friendship that started during our first day in college, evolved to an intimate closeness (Letters 3, 14). My friendship with Officer Tom began during my stint as a chaplain to the local RCMP station and continues today with helping young people stay out of trouble (Letters 15). I met Linda on my first day as Pastor of St. Theresa and from that moment on we became inseparable (Letters 5).
All three of us as a team need to get our act together and come up with a plan to find Mary. Linda volunteered to organize our first all in the same room together meeting to discuss our individual roles and co-ordinate strategies.
Linda Text all three of us the day, time and place of our first get together. She also reminded me of my promise to Charlie Harp from the Manor Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Center to visit his Son Allen, a cancer patient (Letters 16). Over the phone Linda shared the good news that right now, Allen is cancer free and celebrating a birthday day. His Father Charlie is also feeling better and invited both of us to their family birthday celebration.”)
(“Conversation during the drive to Allen Harp’s house with Linda”)
Linda: You need to be aware that the Harp family is crediting you with a miracle in Allen’s recovery from cancer. There are going to be questions about prayers and miracles. My hope is that you don’t give your usual spiel about of how miracles are rare random occurrences that happen to both good and bad people. Don’t ruin this moment of joy for them. But if you are still in the miracle business, how about performing one for me. I am not asking to cure my medical hassles (Letters 5), but for patience in dealing with your idiosyncrasies.
Father Mark: As usual you bring me down a few notches to my rightful place among mortals, but it’s true that miracles and we are just referring here to medical miracles are rare and random. Religious Shrines like Lourdes and Fatima are known for medical cures, but if you take into account the number of pilgrims that make the journey, the statistics for actual medical recoveries at these Shrines is quite low.
Once you get pass the gaudy gift shops, the real miracles at these Shrines for some that are afflicted with physical and mental hardships is the transformation of their Soul. They arrive with depression, anger, fear, a feelings of despair, and with little hope in a future and leave with a sense of peace, good feelings about themselves, see a more hopeful future and know they are not alone because their best friend God is at their side.
Recently I realized that miracles are just not limited to surviving life threatening events, but happen to us all the time. Having good friends and being a good friend to others counts as one of our most important miracles. In friendship we have to put aside our selfish nature and personal problems to help and care for the wellbeing of others. Enjoying, participating, and sharing happy moments of life with others are miracles that should not be taken for granted. Miracles also come into play when we deal with hardships without falling into despair or take advantage of opportunities to help someone in need.
Linda: God talks to me through friends. In their kindness, generosity, and affection, God is telling me that things will be OK if not on this earth than definitely in Heaven. Given my physical shortcomings, my miracles are getting around and doing things for others, sometimes to the surprise of myself and those around me. The greatest miracle we can all experience is seeing a reflection of God in the cuteness of babies, the similes and joy of people we love, the goodness of strangers we meet and the beauty of nature.
I have a present for Allen that will be from both of us. It’s a scrap book of happy photographs of Allen and his Family that I took at the nursing home when they were visiting Charlie. Allen’s two boys wrote letters of love and appreciations to both their Father and Grandfather. They entrusted me to deliver them at the right moment. This birthday party is the right moment.
("Father Mark: We just arrived at Allen’s house. As we entered the home, it became suddenly quieted and solemn. Linda broke the ice with: “This must be the wrong house. I was expecting a fun birthday party. If the priest next to me is the problem, I can rid of him”. Laughter ensued. Charlie in his wheelchair rolled up to both us and introduced us first to Allen, then Allen’s family, and then everyone else at the party. One of the younger kids during intros asked me if I can do a miracle by fixing his toy. I responded with: “I will see what I can do but no promises”.
Linda encouraged the receiving line to break up and everyone to mingle. She assured the family and guests that after the birthday cake, song and opening of presents both of us would share with everyone what we do and a little about our personal lives. Linda then sternly ordered me to take off my priest collar and unbutton the top of my shirt, prompting one the guest to question me if She was my boss. With a half smirk smile I responded, “Off course She is”.
It was just a matter of time before my mingling path crossed with Allen. He asked me if we could talk in private in his study.")
Allen: Not that long ago I was dying from Cancer. My Father talks to an unusual Catholic Priest at his nursing home who promises to pray to God on my behalf and now I stand before him Cancer free. Tell me how You did it?
Father Mark: Your medical recovery has nothing to do with anything I did or You did. This is something that God does and for a reason we will understand when we get to Heaven. You did experience a medical miracle and now you must deal with what comes next.
Allen: In the previous few months, I was in pain, depress, and going through tearful goodbyes. Today I am happy and celebrating one of hopefully many more parties. This extra time to be with family and friends is exhilarating. What’s next is how do I sign up to your church?
Father Mark: Before you sign up to any church, please answer truthfully: Do you see God’s involvement in your recovery?
Allen: I volunteer to help people in a homeless shelter. Some of them get lucky, find jobs and housing and move on with their lives. Today I am the one who got lucky.
Father Mark: As a favor to me, I would like you find a quiet place for meditation where you would not be disturb for at least 20 minutes. I would suggest at least once a week to meditate or reflect first on things that make You happy or miserable, feel successful or a failure. From there move on to memory lane and reflect on the important people, influences, places and events in your life. While you ponder all of this, interject these thoughts with questions of meaning and purpose. Then try to see an awesome loving Being (God) in this picture.
Where I am going with this is to share something with You that I have: an experience of God. We will follow this up with a lunch outing where we can continue this talk. Let’s get back to the party.
("Father Mark: After singing Happy Birthday and enjoying the birthday cake, the children disappeared into the playroom and the adults gathered in the family room. Everyone shared personal stories about themselves and then it was time to leave. On the way home, Linda and I discuss the upcoming meeting with Susan and Tom about finding Mary.")
Linda: Susan and Tom are OK with the date for this upcoming meeting. You probably are aware that Tom and Susan are dating. Given your history with Susan (Letters 14), all of us working close together may be little awkward for you.
Father Mark: Before our strategy meeting about Mary, I need to have another “the talk” discussion with Susan. In the past, I would give Susan my blessing for Her dates, and it will go downhill from there. This time it's different because Tom is also a close friend. I should probably also talk to Tom.
Linda: I will pray it does not turn out as bad as you think. You know I will always be here to cheer you up.
To be Continued - Letters from Canada 24
(“Father Mark Miller: Susan Mayo, Tom Colbert, and Linda Harriet make up my inner circle. With Susan, a friendship that started during our first day in college, evolved to an intimate closeness (Letters 3, 14). My friendship with Officer Tom began during my stint as a chaplain to the local RCMP station and continues today with helping young people stay out of trouble (Letters 15). I met Linda on my first day as Pastor of St. Theresa and from that moment on we became inseparable (Letters 5).
All three of us as a team need to get our act together and come up with a plan to find Mary. Linda volunteered to organize our first all in the same room together meeting to discuss our individual roles and co-ordinate strategies.
Linda Text all three of us the day, time and place of our first get together. She also reminded me of my promise to Charlie Harp from the Manor Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Center to visit his Son Allen, a cancer patient (Letters 16). Over the phone Linda shared the good news that right now, Allen is cancer free and celebrating a birthday day. His Father Charlie is also feeling better and invited both of us to their family birthday celebration.”)
(“Conversation during the drive to Allen Harp’s house with Linda”)
Linda: You need to be aware that the Harp family is crediting you with a miracle in Allen’s recovery from cancer. There are going to be questions about prayers and miracles. My hope is that you don’t give your usual spiel about of how miracles are rare random occurrences that happen to both good and bad people. Don’t ruin this moment of joy for them. But if you are still in the miracle business, how about performing one for me. I am not asking to cure my medical hassles (Letters 5), but for patience in dealing with your idiosyncrasies.
Father Mark: As usual you bring me down a few notches to my rightful place among mortals, but it’s true that miracles and we are just referring here to medical miracles are rare and random. Religious Shrines like Lourdes and Fatima are known for medical cures, but if you take into account the number of pilgrims that make the journey, the statistics for actual medical recoveries at these Shrines is quite low.
Once you get pass the gaudy gift shops, the real miracles at these Shrines for some that are afflicted with physical and mental hardships is the transformation of their Soul. They arrive with depression, anger, fear, a feelings of despair, and with little hope in a future and leave with a sense of peace, good feelings about themselves, see a more hopeful future and know they are not alone because their best friend God is at their side.
Recently I realized that miracles are just not limited to surviving life threatening events, but happen to us all the time. Having good friends and being a good friend to others counts as one of our most important miracles. In friendship we have to put aside our selfish nature and personal problems to help and care for the wellbeing of others. Enjoying, participating, and sharing happy moments of life with others are miracles that should not be taken for granted. Miracles also come into play when we deal with hardships without falling into despair or take advantage of opportunities to help someone in need.
Linda: God talks to me through friends. In their kindness, generosity, and affection, God is telling me that things will be OK if not on this earth than definitely in Heaven. Given my physical shortcomings, my miracles are getting around and doing things for others, sometimes to the surprise of myself and those around me. The greatest miracle we can all experience is seeing a reflection of God in the cuteness of babies, the similes and joy of people we love, the goodness of strangers we meet and the beauty of nature.
I have a present for Allen that will be from both of us. It’s a scrap book of happy photographs of Allen and his Family that I took at the nursing home when they were visiting Charlie. Allen’s two boys wrote letters of love and appreciations to both their Father and Grandfather. They entrusted me to deliver them at the right moment. This birthday party is the right moment.
("Father Mark: We just arrived at Allen’s house. As we entered the home, it became suddenly quieted and solemn. Linda broke the ice with: “This must be the wrong house. I was expecting a fun birthday party. If the priest next to me is the problem, I can rid of him”. Laughter ensued. Charlie in his wheelchair rolled up to both us and introduced us first to Allen, then Allen’s family, and then everyone else at the party. One of the younger kids during intros asked me if I can do a miracle by fixing his toy. I responded with: “I will see what I can do but no promises”.
Linda encouraged the receiving line to break up and everyone to mingle. She assured the family and guests that after the birthday cake, song and opening of presents both of us would share with everyone what we do and a little about our personal lives. Linda then sternly ordered me to take off my priest collar and unbutton the top of my shirt, prompting one the guest to question me if She was my boss. With a half smirk smile I responded, “Off course She is”.
It was just a matter of time before my mingling path crossed with Allen. He asked me if we could talk in private in his study.")
Allen: Not that long ago I was dying from Cancer. My Father talks to an unusual Catholic Priest at his nursing home who promises to pray to God on my behalf and now I stand before him Cancer free. Tell me how You did it?
Father Mark: Your medical recovery has nothing to do with anything I did or You did. This is something that God does and for a reason we will understand when we get to Heaven. You did experience a medical miracle and now you must deal with what comes next.
Allen: In the previous few months, I was in pain, depress, and going through tearful goodbyes. Today I am happy and celebrating one of hopefully many more parties. This extra time to be with family and friends is exhilarating. What’s next is how do I sign up to your church?
Father Mark: Before you sign up to any church, please answer truthfully: Do you see God’s involvement in your recovery?
Allen: I volunteer to help people in a homeless shelter. Some of them get lucky, find jobs and housing and move on with their lives. Today I am the one who got lucky.
Father Mark: As a favor to me, I would like you find a quiet place for meditation where you would not be disturb for at least 20 minutes. I would suggest at least once a week to meditate or reflect first on things that make You happy or miserable, feel successful or a failure. From there move on to memory lane and reflect on the important people, influences, places and events in your life. While you ponder all of this, interject these thoughts with questions of meaning and purpose. Then try to see an awesome loving Being (God) in this picture.
Where I am going with this is to share something with You that I have: an experience of God. We will follow this up with a lunch outing where we can continue this talk. Let’s get back to the party.
("Father Mark: After singing Happy Birthday and enjoying the birthday cake, the children disappeared into the playroom and the adults gathered in the family room. Everyone shared personal stories about themselves and then it was time to leave. On the way home, Linda and I discuss the upcoming meeting with Susan and Tom about finding Mary.")
Linda: Susan and Tom are OK with the date for this upcoming meeting. You probably are aware that Tom and Susan are dating. Given your history with Susan (Letters 14), all of us working close together may be little awkward for you.
Father Mark: Before our strategy meeting about Mary, I need to have another “the talk” discussion with Susan. In the past, I would give Susan my blessing for Her dates, and it will go downhill from there. This time it's different because Tom is also a close friend. I should probably also talk to Tom.
Linda: I will pray it does not turn out as bad as you think. You know I will always be here to cheer you up.
To be Continued - Letters from Canada 24
