Unexpected Grace

Friday mornings at 5 am is my designated time for adoration in the chapel at my parish. My husband is there from 4 to 5am so I relieve him. This morning I saw a book there called I Thirst: 40 Days with Mother Teresa by Joseph Langford and Mother Teresa. I was drawn to pick it up and read a bit but it really captured my attention so I read the first week and decided to then just sit and ponder and “let God love me” as my spiritual director always suggests. This quiet, stilling the mind and spirit is so very challenging for me but I put the effort in. I long for these intensive moments of true connection with Jesus, unfortunately so very few and far between. It is something that really cannot be forced, only swelled up in the spirit. As 6 approached I got my things together and sprayed down the kneeler, chair, and table where I was sitting. 6 came and went, 6:10, 6:15. I finally called the supervisor and told her that no one had come to relieve me. She said Oh no I’m so sorry! I did get a sub and just talked to her yesterday, I hope everything is ok. I am recovering from knee surgery at home. No worries I told her I’ll just stay till 7. I got out my phone and prayed the scriptural rosary and returned to I thirst. There was a very interesting reflection about deepening prayer, not being lukewarm. I long for these deep spiritual connections and was reading voraciously when the doorbell rang at ten till. I went to the door and there to my surprise was not the woman from the list, but a special needs young man from the parish. “Hi, my mom’s in Las Vegas and my dad is taking her place.” Right behind him was his dad and I welcomed them both in. The young man went on to introduce himself and his dad. He told me his first name and his dad’s name, but I call him dad he said. I said well I think I’ll call him by his first name then if that’s ok. He then asked me if I was going to stay and pray with them and I explained I had been there for a double shift already. Disappointed he said how about just a quick Hail Mary, Our Father and Glory be? How could I refuse? We kneeled in front of the monstrance and this young man perfectly recited the hymns with his dad and I joining in. It was the very best part of my 2 hours, in 5 minutes. Thinking back to the book the author explains it’s not always about the quantity of prayers but the quality. I was witness in this brief prayer session of the glorious, unfettered, uncomplicated, pure adoration and worship of our Lord by this young man. What an unexpected grace from an unexpected place!