The Relic

A relic is something sacred, something that is held with great reverence. It's significance imbued with spirituality, faith, beliefs...and power. It has the power to heal and transform. The power to uplift and give hope. The power to open your eyes and make you fight another day. Shrouded in mystery and lore, most relics are not present in our daily lives. They are things that are alluded to, spoken about in hushed words...or simply not mentioned at all.

If you have been reading along here at my little slice of musing and mumblings, you know that a few months ago I was diagnosed with a brain tumor. I want to take this opportunity and thank everyone from the bottom of my heart for their support, kind words, hugs, prayers, healing touch and love. I will never forget the love that I have felt from all of you and hope that one day I will be able to spread that love you have given me out into the world as healing, hope and compassion.

One of the things that was given to me at the time of diagnosis was a relic. Inside the ornate be-glitzed exterior (I thought, how appropriate, no?) was a chip of the bone of Sister Maria Angela Truszkowska, the founder of the Felician Order. This woman defined service to God and put the feminine back into play when religious orders were for men only. A true visionary. So, she slept by my head on the shelf behind my bed every night. I didn't really put her there intetionally, it just seemed to be the right place.

There was one caveat. It was not for me to keep...it was on loan. I was to keep it only enough for its healing love to work its magic, and then I was to return it so that someone else in need would be able to harness its power.

Today I will give it back to its rightful owner.

I received news that there is no function or activity in the "tumor"...really it's just a smudge. There is no blood flow, no glow in the dark indication that it is alive. I am the one that is alive. I am the one with purpose, for the crash course in mortality was given to me for a reason. It was given to me to assess all that I am doing and have done...and what my next steps will be. I can no longer be complacent and let the world pass me by and think that my inaction and indecision will be tolerated by He who has put my soul here. I was forced to see that my gifts and talents are being wasted on things and places that do not mesh with all that makes me who I am.

The relic has made me begin my path with new determination.

Thank you for breaking me open.

Thank you for the long hard look at my life.

Thank you for the love I have received.

Thank you for my second chance.