On Friday, Charlie and I loaded up Ma maw B and headed to Chapel Hill for the weekend to celebrate Catherine's graduate degree in Sports Administration. For those of you not familiar with my reality, my 88 year old dementia challenged mother lives, moves and has her being with us. During the 150 miles trip, she must have exclaimed half of those miles 'well I see why Catherine doesn't come home much.'
Friday afternoon was a day of running around Chapel Hill to accomplish Catherine's "to do" list. The only crisis we encountered was Catherine realizing her Master's hood for Sports and Exercise Science was sage green and Carolina blue, apparently not in her color pallet! We had a nice meal at Nantucket courtesy of Catherine's supervisor.
Only at evening's end did I finally take a deep breath and remember there was an evening and there was morning, the seventh day. I gave thanks for mother being able to come, regardless of her mental condition. When mother handed Catherine the bouquet of fresh flowers from the Farmer's Market, Ma maw's eyes sparkled and "hi there girl" was just as clear as the day Catherine Rebecca Greene was born! In our hotel room Catherine literally went to sleep as soon as she sat down in a straight back chair and I said "well done ,good and faithful servant". Finally I gave thanks for Charlie and his patience and understanding with three women!
Saturday was more of the same. Searching for Sabbath time, I found it by the pool with family, friends and sunshine. As a peaceful breeze ruffled the air, I was reminded that "surely the Lord is in this place."
Sunday was a day of celebration. Once again I struggled between checking out of the hotel, putting on my make up and my mother's (not on the same face, thank you), finding a parking place and pushing the wheelchair versus recognizing the Sabbath in the day. I was challenged to find reverence in the chaos.
Closing my eyes and taking slow, deep breaths, God came to me
in the beauty of nature
in the tears as graduates' names were announced
in multi races, cultures and religions represented
in traditional music and new pieces
in commencement messages
in a grandmother and daughter
walking barefoot through the lush lawns
in my cell phone and sidekick email left in the car
in plentiful hugs, smiles and flowers
for mothers and graduates
Thank you Catherine and the Class of 2010 for helping me practice sabbath. "Sabbath is the great equalizer, reminding us we do not live on this earth but in it" (Barbara Brown Taylor).
In the eyes of the world, there is no reward for reflection. In the eyes of God, reflection is required not occassionally but on a regular basis. You have to wonder what makes people so resistant to it, because I came back from Chapel Hill refreshed spiritually and more committed to Sabbath.
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