While in Harrogate I was elected to the parish council of St. Robert's. Occasionally, our pastor and I did not see eye to eye on some issues and could have to hash things out.
After we came home to Baltimore, I was remembering one of the Canon and my disagreements (Canon is the British title for Monsignor). I realized that in that conversation I had been harsh and that I needed to write and ask the Canon for forgiveness for my demeanor and my words. However, I kept putting the letter off.
Several weeks later I received a letter postmarked Rome. It was from a British lady I had met after our return to Baltimore while she was here on vacation. Emily was from Yorkshire but not from the town where I lived. However she did say she knew some of the priests from my town since she worked at a retreat house within the county and met lots of clergy. We spent a little time seeing the Baltimore sights and
talking of her travel experiences and mine.
Now here was her letter from Rome. I opened the letter and she told me of her visit to the Vatican and to St. Peter's. and how she had lit a candle and said a prayer for me at St. Peter's. After leaving the cathedral, she crossed the piazza and at one of the outdoor cafes, she saw my former pastor having a coffee. She went over as she recognized him from the retreat center and she told the Canon of meeting me in Baltimore. What a coincidence Emily interjected into her letter that "I would meet someone who knew you just after I prayed for you." As I read these words I was shaking. This was no coincidence. This was a "God-incidence."
I wrote and sent the letter to the Canon. Two weeks later I received a beautiful letter from him. He was most gracious to forgive and was very encouraging just as the Lord is each time forgiveness is asked of Him. Six weeks later I received news that the Canon had died suddenly. How good God was to me.
No comments:
Post a Comment