Am I the same person I was last year today? What has changed? Is there a new milestone, a certain new place in me that was not there before?
Its a Yes.
(And it is new every morning) : I am startled by, my new capacity to be startled by …. the faithfulness of God. Saw that this week.
This week we met a few people God asked us to meet. It wasn’t an easy group of people, we dont see eye to eye on most things, but early morning Tuesday last, I’m getting one of their faces in my inner visual field. Somewhere between toothpaste and tea, I’m certain I have to see Jhiala, our cousin. On the phone, Jhiala wasn’t exactly warm but God in His heavens was saying, ‘Shhhhh and go.’
Maybe I’ve understood God a little deeper. Maybe His Compassion has surpassed all other human ways. Correction ..not maybe, but certainly, absolute surely.
So we shhhhhushed and went. Long story short, Jhiala and kids live in a mansion across our city. Their home is a museum of Rajasthani culture, carpets from Kashmir, tapestry from Israel. The colours hit you from the door, right to a red walled kitchen complete with a yelling parrot named, “Manushree.” Manushree has a lisp and red gaudy beak that wouldn’t stop. The kids have eyes like burning moons, their Ma has just got in her reports, she’s cancer free again! ‘Again?!’
We hadn’t known. Ofcourse we hadn’t known. No one shares such things in our communities, not if you want every spiritual auntie and uncle shouting righteous judgement in your ears.
But not God. He said to give Jhiala a warm long hug. We did that in the doorway, and in her terrace garden, and by her lawn and then in the childrens’ rooms.
So what’s the Milestone here? Im feeling closer to God in a way that shares other people. I’m clear now, that everything about Him is Everyone. No favourites. If I love Him, I must listen to His Heart. And in His Heart, is Everyone. And I get to come home feeling stronger. Jhiala is half her old size, her new smile breaks my heart in the best way, I’m seeing courage and grace, beauty and laughter slipping out of her in tears and a new sweetness that wasn’t there before.
I see a new calm in me that wasn’t there before. Can’t explain it yet. Somethings are best left as milestones marking our journeys. I’m grateful, stuttering grateful that we could pray together. Not easy, not with Jhi who never believed in anyone called Jesus.
“You will be here back, next week, say?”
I cant believe this. Jhi called us back? Thank You God I whisper as I write this for FMFWriters. Im sure Ive crossed the 5 minute mark, but bless ya’all for this Prompt.
Happy week ahead😊
-RN
✒️
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