The gift of living is breathtakingly miraculous and creation feels like one great vibration of love, says CHANA MEDDIN
Walking down the wide hall to my doctor’s office last week, I began feeling anxious. A second round of mammograms indicated a cancer biopsy was necessary. My doctor had reassured me after the first abnormal mammogram, “Oh, that’s nothing, I wouldn’t worry.” And I hadn’t. Should I now?
Suddenly, words from the 23rd Psalm filtered through my consciousness as I neared the seating area.
“The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want.
He causeth me to lie down in green pastures.
He leadeth me beside still waters…”
Still waters replaced all worries and I felt lifted, as if walking on air inches from the carpeted floor. My feet must have touched the ground but I didn’t feel it. Within, all was silent as bliss flooded my awareness. I felt enveloped by God’s protection and love. So flooded that by the time I sat down I barely remembered where I was, much less the reason for my visit. Even more surprised because I don’t read the Bible and am not “religious,” so to speak.
Grace doesn’t visit as a reward earned for being good or righteous. It comes of God’s own accord, at least in my case.
The last time this happened was even more miraculous. It was the summer of 1992. I was told radiologists had found a “large mass” during a mammogram. Returning a week later for follow-up, I parked the car way up a hill, so I had time to walk and calm myself before arriving at the hospital.
Concentrating on the Holy Names of God, I began feeling light, airy, spirit soaring. The walk to the hospital transformed from anxiety into joyous freedom.
The radiologist who greeted me looked a bit surprised at what must have been a radiant smile on my face instead of fear. She dutifully performed the tests before leaving me, still joy-filled, alone in the darkened room to wait.
About a half hour later she returned with a perplexed expression on her face. “We don’t have any explanation for this, but the mass has completely vanished and your mammogram is normal.”
“What!”
“We don’t understand. The mass has suddenly disappeared and your mammograms are all normal. You’re free to go. We can’t explain it,” she added, shaking her head in disbelief. “Do you understand?” she asked.
“Yes,” I whispered, smiling.
One dictionary defines grace as “the freely given, unmerited love of God, the spirit of God to regenerate or strengthen.”
The name Chana is Hebrew for “grace.” It was my great grandmother’s name. It is pronounced like “Chanukkah” or challah bread. So, perhaps not surprisingly, the 23rd psalm heralded God’s love when most needed. Song of my ancestors. This Thanksgiving, gratitude overflowing for blessings known and unknown, seen and unseen; the gift is in being alive in this moment on earth.
Last week, life itself welcomed me awake. The gift of living felt breathtakingly miraculous and not to be taken for granted. Creation felt like one great vibration of love.
Indeed, life is beautiful! By God’s Grace.
Chana “Hana” Meddin is a lifelong meditator, nature photographer, artist, and wildlife advocate. She has written for the Times of India’s ‘Speaking Tree’ and has a story published in Oswald Pereira’s book, ‘How to Create Miracles in Our Daily Life.’ She lives in Seattle with her cat, Annabelle Fluff. They both enjoy yoga.
It’s surrender that you experienced both times Chana and once you surrender things fall in place by God’s grace and you have Grace all around you in your name. God bless you always !
Dear Nitaji, It’s such a joy to find you here, always! Thank you for pointing out surrender because, somehow, I missed that fine point. And, as you’ve so lovingly reminded me, this is the way of grace. I appreciate your perceptiveness and sharing. Thank you most happily!
God’s love child all we are and our faith has to be completely complete to discover that awesome speck of light of love…as we truly are…
Yes Chana, the trail of feeling you made us visit through this musing is in itself is reassuring enough that when we become benevolent child of God, then there is no sadness and fear in life and living, it’s all love love and love…
Thanks for sharing such an inspiring post.
Dear Baturam, much gratitude for “when we become benevolent child of God, then there is no sadness and fear in life and living.” You speak truth, yes, it is “all love love and love…” Thank you for reading and sharing your unique perspective that is actually most Universal! I always learn from you. Always happy to see you here:)
Pranams.
Beautiful expansion of a clear understanding.
Grace is free.
Grace is in abundance.
Grace is mystically powerful.
One who looks at it, seeks it with steadfastness, experiences its astounding manifestations.
But Grace to appear in its fullness, demands our focused practice of love and goodness.
Thereafter whatever happens, one take it as a compassionate gift of God and rejoices.
Grace is realized by only the receiver.
Thank you Chana for sharing a beautiful reflection and an event.
You are unique. You have fought many battles and comeout strong ? ? ?.
I shall love ? you more for these experiences.
Stay blessed in joy dear. Lord is always looking at you.
Dear Manasji, Yes! Grace is mystically powerful. So lovely said, as with everything you have shared. All manner of healing in my life has come only from God, and that leads me to rest in the Lord knowing that, in the words of
Julian of Norwich, “all shall be well and all shall be well and all manner of things shall be well.” And, dear friend, I do “take it as a compassionate gift of God and rejoice.” With you and my dear ones sharing the journey to lighten its load and partake of many blessings. For we are all interconnected. Life awakens in our love.