To say it has been a while since I have posted would be an understatement to say the least! I will definitely make the effort to do better in that area. I usually wait for something to inspire me to prompt a posting on my blog and although there have been many inspirations over the past 16 months, I have failed to make the time to pen and post my thoughts.
So, today, I have great inspiration to blog as I sit here and think about the blessings in my life and acknowledge that we as humans don’t often enough take the time to just enjoy those blessings. I am surrounded by so many incredible people that God has put in my life to help cushion the ride on this journey. There is a saying that “God gives you just want you need just when you need it”. I have grown to truly appreciate that to be true and work daily to look for examples of that very love for each one of us.
This week, losing people is very prominent on my mind as I spent the day on Thursday at St. Andrew the Apostle Catholic Church paying respect and sharing memories of a dear friend who passed away last week, Dolly Echeverria. And, this morning I will again travel down Ray Road to a different church, Crossroads Church, to attend the celebration of life for a friend’s husband, Brian Messick, who also died in the past week. Sitting in the pews at St. Andrews on Thursday, I could not help but remember sitting there seven and a half years ago for my own father’s memorial service.
One of the blessings during that time and since that time has been the presence of Fr. Joseph Hennessy in my life, as well as my family’s life. He offered that same comfort and support to Dolly’s family as he gave his homily and tribute to Dolly and her ministry to her family, friends, schools, church and community. You never stop to think about a priest going through difficult times and what they do during those times, is continue to give of themselves to everyone around them. That is what I have seen in Fr. Joe over the past few weeks as he experienced his own loss of his friend, his challenger, his “truthful prophet” in Dolly.
I have thought about it and how do you offer advice and support to a priest? The only conclusion I have reached in my relationship with Fr. Joe is to tell him you love him and step back and let God guide him through it.
Fr. Joe sets off this weekend on his annual journey North, this year for three months. He says that the first couple of weeks are rough and he usually is sick of himself at the end of that time, but that is when he can truly connect with God and start to do the hard work. I expect that this year will be harder than most as he sits in Dolly’s cabin and sees all the beauty of the Montana ranch, and reflects on all the years she was that beacon in his life. So, as he hits the road this time, I say a special prayer and will continue to pray for his strength and healing in the Colorado Rockies, on the Oregon Coast, the Washington Cascades, the Montana ranch and the California beaches. May his hikes be energizing, his photos capture the beauty he sees and may God be with him to fill the loss and bring him back to us in the cooler month of October. Thank you Fr. Joe for always helping us through our challenges and losses, may God continue to help you through the love He has for you and the love we all share with you.
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