Inside A Tornado
Stories
Shining Moments
Visions Of The Holy In Ordinary Lives
Carolyn Peake
Having been in the Protestant church all my life, I never gave much thought to Mary. She was just sort of the third person in a nativity set or someone revered by the Catholics. But I look at her very differently now.
I have been getting some counseling from my pastor (of the Northfield United Methodist Church in Vermont). Often, as we work on a topic, I will enter into a time of prayer and meditation to see what God wants to show me or tell me. In these times, it is not unusual for us to sense the presence of the Holy Spirit and/or angels.
But this time as I prayed, I felt another presence in the room. Pastor Ralph said, "Carolyn, who is standing to your right?" I knew who it was, but didn't want to put ideas in his head, so I said, "I don't know." Then, after a pause I said, "But it's a woman." And he replied, "It's the Blessed Virgin." I said, "Yes, it is." I knew it was.
The next night I spoke to him and admitted that I had lied when I said I didn't know who was beside me. He smiled and told me that he could see her.
She has continued to be with me, sometimes quietly and nurturing, sometimes with a bit more flair. One Sunday, as we were entering into the Eucharist time, for some reason I asked Mary if she would like to "enter into" me and experience the Eucharist with me. She spoke a quiet "Thank you," and suddenly I felt a sense of worship welling up in me like I have never felt before. It was impossible not to lift my hands in praise! Tears filled my eyes.
When it was my turn to kneel at the rail for Communion, I accepted it, crossed myself, and suddenly I felt like I was inside a tornado and it was inside me! I knew it was the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit! It felt "sparkly"-- like the twinkling of a huge fireworks display without the smoke and noise! I was caught up in it, inside and out. I wanted to just stay on my knees. Words are just too weak a vessel to describe this!
Mary continues to be with me every day. For the first time in my life, I don't feel alone.
Having been in the Protestant church all my life, I never gave much thought to Mary. She was just sort of the third person in a nativity set or someone revered by the Catholics. But I look at her very differently now.
I have been getting some counseling from my pastor (of the Northfield United Methodist Church in Vermont). Often, as we work on a topic, I will enter into a time of prayer and meditation to see what God wants to show me or tell me. In these times, it is not unusual for us to sense the presence of the Holy Spirit and/or angels.
But this time as I prayed, I felt another presence in the room. Pastor Ralph said, "Carolyn, who is standing to your right?" I knew who it was, but didn't want to put ideas in his head, so I said, "I don't know." Then, after a pause I said, "But it's a woman." And he replied, "It's the Blessed Virgin." I said, "Yes, it is." I knew it was.
The next night I spoke to him and admitted that I had lied when I said I didn't know who was beside me. He smiled and told me that he could see her.
She has continued to be with me, sometimes quietly and nurturing, sometimes with a bit more flair. One Sunday, as we were entering into the Eucharist time, for some reason I asked Mary if she would like to "enter into" me and experience the Eucharist with me. She spoke a quiet "Thank you," and suddenly I felt a sense of worship welling up in me like I have never felt before. It was impossible not to lift my hands in praise! Tears filled my eyes.
When it was my turn to kneel at the rail for Communion, I accepted it, crossed myself, and suddenly I felt like I was inside a tornado and it was inside me! I knew it was the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit! It felt "sparkly"-- like the twinkling of a huge fireworks display without the smoke and noise! I was caught up in it, inside and out. I wanted to just stay on my knees. Words are just too weak a vessel to describe this!
Mary continues to be with me every day. For the first time in my life, I don't feel alone.
