These recent days have found me in deep prayerful contemplation as one of my closest cousins, and my Confirmation sponsor, is dying. Long fought bone cancer has conspired with a beaten heart and surrendering kidneys to number his days. Paradoxically, he at sixty-eight looks fiftyish, and not as if dying. But, it is indicative that he is in home-based hospice care, with his wife and three adult daughters tending to him. All of us know his temporal ‘time’ is near its end.
If you would remember Dick in your prayers. Remember his daughters and grandchildren who surround him with love and care, and determination to help him smile as he can. Remember that they do not try to stop his tears in pain and sorrow, but just be with him as they can. (Me, I just weep with him.) They, patient and caretakers, demonstrate courage and fortitude I did not think they had. But, too, Dick has made it his finest work to be father and Grandpa, giving of himself and his all, and he is reaping what he has sowed.
Dick has touched me so in how he is touched that I visit with him. With him and all of us in heart, mind, spirit and soul, I gave him this litany:
Litany of He Who is Here And There
Here and There is my God . . . and I am His eternal choice in love
Here and There is my Steadfast Love . . . and I am His, Love’s first choice, most beloved of beloved
Here and There is my Creator . . . and I am His breathtaking masterpiece, from nothing but Love
Here and There is my Father Forever . . . and I am His most loved child
Here and There is my Forgiving Father . . . and I am His submissive prodigal yet beloved child
Here and There is my Father’s Son . . . and I am His closest, dearest sibling
Here and There is my Eucharist . . . and I am His given up and given to Love, to All of Him
Here and There is my Life . . . and I am His in His Blood’s blood and of His Breath’s breath
Here and There is my Resurrection . . . and I am His promised of His hope
Here and There is my Way . . . and I am His disciple in His footsteps, in faith
Here and There is my Savior . . . and I am His closest, most beloved friend, in and of His love
Here and There is my Master . . . and I am His student at His breast
Here and There is my Redeemer . . . and I am His life redeemed forever
Here and There is my Shepherd . . . and I am His sheep of His flock
Here and There is my Prince of Peace . . . and I am His grateful, tranquil subject
Here and There is my Lord Holy Spirit . . . and I am His most beloved truelove
Here and There is my Wonderful Counselor . . . and I am His long-sufferer in His patience
Here and There is my Divine Guide . . . and I am His careful shadow of His shadow, in His footsteps
Here and There is my Leader . . . and I am His most cherished follower
Here and There is my Alpha and Omega of Truth . . . and I am His most attentive hearer
Here and There is my Cause of and for Freedom . . . and I am His vigilant defender
Here and There is my Grace . . . and I am His beloved, humble, eternal supplicant
Here and There is my God of Glory . . . and I am His vessel emptied for His gifts
Here and There is my Source of Joy . . . and I am His rejoicing admirer
Here and There is my Invulnerable Rock . . . and I am His protected child
Here and There is my Eternal Refuge . . . and I am His, hidden in His Sacred Heart
Here and There is my Undying Strength . . . and I am His diminishment of my weakness
Here and There is my Perpetual Presence . . . and I am His friendless soul, befriended in Him
Here and There is my Giver of givers . . . and I am His most needy pauper
Here and There is my Prayer of prayers . . . and I am His most needy petitioner
Here and There is my King of kings . . . and I am His brother prince and sister princess
Here and There is my Lord of lords . . . and I am His devout servant
Here and There is my Church . . . and I am His gratified member of His Body
Here and There is my Home . . . and I am His returning worshipper, to where His and my Heart waits for me, through love from Love, in love for Love, with love by grace of Love . . .
