Almost four weeks ago my life changed forever. On March 31, 2010 I had major surgery at Providence Hospital in Medford Oregon to remove cysts that were causing debilitating pain. Providence is the divine guidance of God and this guidance is the infinite Love that is always present never absent—the infinite Love that you are. It is the essence of life itself. The common experience for most people is to be completely unaware of this infinite Love, this omniscient guidance that is continually flowing through your life. Certainly, I have witnessed this invisible guidance at work in my life more than once and this recent surgery offers a perfect example. Dr. Lanita Witt was highly recommended by my doctor and, due to her reputation of being one of the best doctors in her field, it looked like it would be several weeks before I could see her, but when Dr. Witt saw my chart she immediately cleared her schedule and an appointment was made for February. On that cold raining day of my first appointment I was surprised to see a crucifix hanging on the wall across from the receptionist and was even more surprised to see a statue of the Virgin Mary holding the baby Jesus in the lobby. ‘Hmmmm…’ I thought to myself, ‘This is no ordinary hospital!’ My first appointment was almost three hours in length—I have never had a doctor spend so much time reviewing everything. It was obvious from the ultrasound images combined with the intense pain that I was experiencing that surgery was going to be necessary. And with all the technology and professionalism what overwhelmed me the most was the Love. The Love that mysteriously led me to this Grace filled hospital and the very humble, loving, compassionate doctor who quite literally saved my life.
Jesus says, “Abide in My Love.” (John 15:9) Abidance is the state of abiding—unending, unchanging, unshakeable. Abiding in Love is simply stopping to recognizing that you are that endless, unending, unchanging Love. Love is so simple and so few perceive this infinitude. In 1827 a young woman named Émilie Gamelin was more than likely not thinking of herself as Love. She was still grieving the loss of her first two children who died shortly after their birth, when her husband died of a long illness, and as if this heartbreak wasn’t enough, it was soon followed by the shattering heartbreak of the death of her third and only remaining child. The heartbreak of this young woman was so intense that the only thing that offered her any solace was service to others in need. She devoted all of her time to caring for the sick, the elderly, orphans, and the mentally ill as well as those in prison. In 1840 she became a postulate of the Catholic Church in Montreal Canada. And on March 30, 1844 she founded the Sisters of Providence Catholic Order as Mother Gamelin, the first Superior General of the young community. Mother Gamelin later became known asMother of the Poor and her shelters became known as the House of Providence. It was the Sisters of Providence who carried on the work of Mother Gamelin building the Providence Hospital where my surgery was performed as well as several other hospitals in Canada as well as the west coast of the United States. The profundity of Mother Gamelin’s tireless work and service are encapsulated in her final words. What were Mother Gamelin’s last words and how can this life experience at Providence Hospital help you to understand the teaching of Jesus on an even deeper level?
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