Today’s find: Roses…

Today’s find: Roses…

When I started this blog, I had a notion of roses in mind.

I was familiar with St. Thérèse of Lisieux and her shower of roses—sent as signs that our compassionate Father has heard our prayers. Indeed, both my wife Gerri and my daughter Ellen love to tell of the roses they have received when they’ve asked for St. Thérèse’s intercession.

So while I didn’t have a grand plan in mind when I started Steadfast Spirit last week, I figured, ‘What the heck? Launch the site, and maybe the good Lord will send a few roses my way, too.’

So far, so good: I haven’t gone a day without receiving a rose of ‘found’ spirituality to write about. Even better, I have come to a certain sense of peace about all those daily entries, stretching out unwritten before me: The blog will be what it will be—and I really don’t have to sweat the details.

Roses are on my mind in a particular way today, though, because I have been asked to set aside some extra time in prayer for Ellen and her friend Grace as they prepare themselves spiritually for their mission trip to Haiti in early March.

Today is their “sending forth” retreat, led by Sister Rosa Cecilia Espiños SSND. And one of the prayers I’ve been given to say in solidarity with them is from St. Thérèse herself.

I invite you to pray it along with me now:

May today there be peace within.

May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.

May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.

May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you.

May you be content knowing you are a child of God.

Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise, and love.

It is there for each and every one of us.

A beautiful blessing prayer, eh? And whaddya know: It dropped into my lap like another ‘spiritual rose’, courtesy of Ellen and Grace—and their courageous ‘yes’ in response to the invitation to make their mission trip.

We do tend to ask for roses from the Lord, don’t we? And it’s a delight when He responds in some tangible way.

Still, sometimes we forget that spiritual roses can (and perhaps ought to) be a two-way street. We might well wonder: Is it not possible to use our gifts and talents as a way of sending a bouquet to the Lord – a bouquet fashioned, perhaps, through our own creativity or compassion?

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