As I sat in the Church, yesterday afternoon, and looked up towards the ornate roof, just before the Mass started, I thought about how many prayers of so many devotees fill this Church frequently. Some come not only for the obligatory Sunday Mass, but every day for the 6am Mass, through rain or shine, heat or cold.
Every day Churchgoers have their own specific place where they normally sit. They do not normally have time to speak to each other as they need to rush off to their daily work schedule after the morning Mass. But they do acknowledge each other’s presence, though they may not even know their names.
Yesterday, I was surprised to find so many daily morning Church goers in attendance for this particular afternoon service. It initially was surprising to me , then it was not as the thought dawned on me that they had come to pay their special respects to this lady, one of their own, who used to faithfully attend Mass every morning, dressed in a white saree and with black walking shoes always. I used to see her too, and we would acknowledge each other with a smile and maybe exchange a brief word before Mass.
She came here daily to seek Him, and also to probably let go of all challenges, hopes and aspirations for the day at His feet. It was not a life without challenges that she had, losing her husband many decades ago, and having to raise her children.
Yet, she faced all these challenges with a smile and as illness took over, and she could no longer make her way to Church for the daily Mass, we missed her presence. As the time for her final departure grew near it was tough for her family, especially her loving son and his wife, always by her side throughout, to let go.
And yet they had to . She went home finally to Him, whom she sought faithfully all these years. A great example of the life of a faithful Christian, always clinging to Him in the storms of life.
As we depart the service, I think to myself. It will be my turn too, to let go, one day. Till then, let me live my Christian life faithfully as this aunty showed us in example.
I do speak to some of the Church goers as they leave the service. One of them I am speaking to for the very first time. We are all fellow daily Mass goers, just like Aunty was. We feel a sense of loss.
But we also understand , we need to let go when the moment comes.
That is the meaning of our faith in Him.
Requiescat en pace Aunty.
4 thoughts on “Letting Go”
Her presence was consistent, unobtrusive, and deeply faithful, symbolized by her white saree and black walking shoes. Without fanfare or recognition, she modeled the kind of daily spiritual discipline that defines true commitment to faith.
A sub-theme caught my attention: the experience of “closeness” experienced with others attending Mass during the week. It’s as though the Holy Spirit weaves a thread through the hearts of those present; I mean that we can feel the goodness of God through each other.
Likewise, I don’t know most of their names, and we don’t have long conversations, yet we “acknowledge” each other in a special way, and that special way is a blessing indeed.
I am also very impressed with the woman you mentioned. She is a very faithful and pious person. She always attends Mass every morning and always wears a white sari. I believe she is a good example for all of us.
The longer one spends time with our aged parents, the more we automatically get to cherish, appreciate, understand and most importantly love them!
And, the more will we realise that, collectively as a family, we would not be enjoying life, to this extent, without the immense and humongous sacrifices our beloved parents have made for our sake..
That’s when realisation strikes on us, that without them we are nothing!
Letting go is easier said than done!
But, as Tom has so beautifully conveyed to us, we just have to.
It’s Our Lords plan and will.
And, we have to surrender to him.
For, Our Lord does every thing for our good.
This Letting go, then we can, with with the peace and joy in our Lord..