ALL TOGETHER NOW
I was at a prayer meeting earlier this week and I had one of those experiences whereby a sense of unity and clarity comes to the fore, bringing confidence and hope that things which have been at odds and troublesome within now have been integrated. I’ve never had a good sense of spiritual community or communion. Most of my religious awareness, such as it was, has always been about me myself cultivating the right kind of relationship with God, the Blessed Mother, the angels and the saints. But this recent weekend I very much more felt like I was in union with the people around me and untold numbers of others not present, in their families and associations as well as in my own.
I had been watchinga number of TV presentations about St. Padre Pio and I think my mind switched over from its usual way of of seeing everything through my own individual viewpoint and instead seeing me as just a member of a wide communality, similar to the way the Saint was caringly aware of all the needs and trials of the people who cried out to him. As I sat in the prayer group I looked about at the twenty or so other members and saw each one as a partner in a benign awareness of God’s realm. About the same time a parade of my relatives, friends and acquaintances passed through my mental notice and I quickly prayed or wished well for each one, almost as though I had a rubber stamp or magic wand that made praying for them brisk and efficient.
The frame of mind hasn’t lingered since, although a memory of it persists and my general outlook has changed a little, as I realize that there is a better way of focusing on His Kingdom with a sense of the importance of others, keeping them in the awareness of who is involved.
