Tuesday, May 5
In 2014, I traveled to India to be with my sister and daughter at the Arsha Vidya Gurukulum ashram in Anaikutti, Tamil Nadu, India. My family’s friend and mentor, Swami Dayananda, was the founder and teacher there. Every morning at 4 AM, the bells chimed to call us to prayer. I rose to find my way to the Hindu temple where I sat outside. As the chanting of prayers rose in rhythmic and musical tones, I sat quietly. I heard both the ancient prayers being chanted and the birds singing their morning songs. I watched the Hindu priest perform a puja and offer Lord Dakshinamurti ritual baskets of coconuts and bananas. Around me the white mist rose to reveal the mountains surrounding us. The sun rose bringing with it extravagant crimson reds and streaks of purple to the morning sky. In the valley below, farmers began to work their land.
After prayers, we gathered in the hall for a hot cup of chai tea and then returned to our rooms to prepare for the day. There were classes throughout the day as the students residing there studied a three-year course of Vedanta and Sanskrit. My favorite class was on meditation where I learned basic practices of how to quiet my mind and still the distractions that arose in it. I learned how to focus on my breathing, to slowly breathe in and out. We became aware of the tension in our muscles and took time to soften and relax our eyes, our faces, our shoulders, our hands, our feet. The thoughts that came into our minds were acknowledged and then placed aside for a later time. As the busyness of my mind slowed, my heart opened.
In that space of stillness, I learned a new way of recognizing God. I saw that God was both in the temple prayers and the morning mist. I felt God’s presence in the quiet of my mind and in the sharing of chai tea with friends. I discovered God in the elephants and in the gardener, Ramanji, who understood why they had come to eat the ancient herbs in his medicinal garden – because they needed them. I learned that the red ants in my shower were unaware that I was there and simply needed to be redirected to another location with incense. Even the mosquito that buzzed around my ear was not to be slapped, because it was also God’s creation.
I’m grateful for the experience I had in India. Being in a strange land opened my mind to learn new things. What I did not know then was that those lessons were also being taught to me here. I hadn’t yet opened my heart to receive them. When I returned home, I saw them everywhere. When I follow the instructions that Mother Mary gives us in this message, when I pause, breathe deeply, place my hand upon my heart, and listen to God’s voice, the guidance is there. I have only to trust that I am loved and release the false thoughts of unworthiness, guilt, and fear.
Today, take time to pause, breathe, and listen to God’s voice in your heart. As you go through the day, notice God’s presence in everything you encounter. Say to yourself, “Oh, there is God in my kitchen – in the water, in the food, in the wood of the cabinets, in the worker who built the refrigerator…” and “I see you God in the buds on the trees, in the clouds in the sky, in the birds chirping”. “God, I see you and I hear you. My heart is open. I am listening.”
Today, I have reprinted a portion of yesterday’s message from Mother Mary. I invite you to read it again slowly and spend more time allowing her words to enter your heart. – Rev. Mary
6 Comments
CeCe Krokenberger
In August 2011, my then 17 year old daughter was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease. Two weeks later while we were in Martha’s Vineyard, MA, she awoke with abdominal pain requiring a trip to the local hospital. As the day progressed the pain worsened and her vital signs became unstable. A CT scan revealed her bowel had perforated, a medical emergency requiring immediate surgery. Since the local hospital was not equipped for that level of acuity, Boston MedFlight had to take her by helicopter to Boston, MA. Arranging the flight took some time as did the arrival of the helicopter. As the hours passed, I watch my daughter deteriorate as bacteria poisoned her system. I was crippled with fear and anxiety as I helplessly stood by. When the helicopter arrived, my daughter was given stronger medications that eventually put her to sleep for the 30 minute flight to Boston. Only one parent was allowed to accompany her in the helicopter so my husband had to drive to Boston, arriving hours after us. This left me alone in my grief and darkness sitting next to my very ill daughter praying that she would live. I didn’t want to cry in front of her, so I tried to appear calm. My hands were clammy, my heart was beating fast, I felt nauseated and dizzy. When the helicopter took off, I continued with my praying. Though the Hail Mary had always been a part of my prayers, directly addressing Mother Mary had not been. At that moment, when the helicopter cleared the trees, it was clear to me that I needed Her help. I asked Her as one mother to another to pray for my daughter that she may live. I asked her to give me the power to be the best mother I could during this difficult time. Immediately a sense of clarity and calmness overcame me. I remember looking out of the helicopter window at the brilliant blue sky, the green trees and roaring ocean below. I was awestruck at the beauty of the Island that I love so much and knew this was God. I was no longer alone with my fears. I felt comfort, hope, and faith that all would be ok. After a long surgery, a colostomy, and a sometimes rocky hospitalization, she did indeed live. “When I find myself in times of trouble, Mother Mary comes to me…….”. Happy May.
Mary Ramerman Author
Dear Cece,
Thank you for sharing this story about your daughter and yourself. I know as a mother that my scariest moments have been when my children’s lives were threatened. Your prayer to Mary “immediately” brought on a sense of clarity calmness. You saw things differently and knew you were not alone. I believe that is exactly what Mary wants us to know – that she is already right here with us, that it only takes a drop of willingness on our part to be open to her, that she comes to heal and strengthen and love us. And she doesn’t waste any time doing it!
Colleen Fox-Salah
Before I started reading the entry, I put my hands on heart and asked Mary to be with me. As I read the passage inspired by Mary several times and meditated on this message, I put my hands on my heart again.
I have talked to Mary, pleaded with Mary and asked Mary questions as needs arose, but I have never meditated on Mary. Her voice is tied up with who I am as a mother and as a daughter. She speaks to me as pure maternal energy.
Mary is as mysterious as she is familiar to me. She exists in the space where I am most vulnerable.
It will be interesting to see how our relationship expands as I meditate on her without any roles or preconceived expectations attached.
Mary Ramerman Author
Dear Colleen,
When you wrote “she exists in the space where I am most vulnerable”, I thought that is where I would allow only the ones I trust the most to be.
I think you are correct when you wonder how your relationship will expand as you meditate one her without preconceived roles – what a gift that
would be to all our relationships to take time to experience each other without expectations or perhaps another way to think of it – to let love free us
from suffering or guilt. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and inspiring me to go deeper.
Joanne Zeppetella
It is so wonderful to have you touching so deeply into the heart of God in all we see and do. Your words are a lovely oasis in all that is going on these days. Today’s thoughts are a reminder that even when no one is close by, we are never really alone. The presence of God and mother Mary are ever present. Thank you for these reminders. As always Joanne Z.
Brian ONeill
Dear CeCe, thank you for sharing this so honestly. I am so glad your daughter recovered. I love how you describe the send of calm that came over you when seeking Mary’s aid and how this direct contact had previously been unavailable. Direct contact is always available to us and that is the precise message that is delivered here, we don’t need an operator to patch us through to the Grace that lives within us. Many blessings, Brian
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