Say a #prayer. - v - a photo on Flickriver

Say a #prayer. - v

            So, you have a crappy night, and still decide to go to #Mass. On the way down the elevator, you ride with a couple who look saddened and forlorn. You greet them matter-of-factly saying, "How are y'all this morning?" 

The woman through reddened eyes says, "Could be better." 

A moment of silence passes, and you decide to ask, "What's going on?" 

She replies, "Our daughter had a car crash this morning, was LifeFlighted here, and she's in surgery now."

Looking at her as she says those words, you pause to say something comforting, encouraging and hopeful, then say, "I could think of better places to be, but I couldn't think of any better place to be given the circumstances."

She replies, "God's got this."

The elevator drops another floor, or two and more people step on. You look over at the couple, and as the others are getting on, all looking down as if to avoid facing the sorrow, you say, "I'm headed to Mass… I'll say a prayer for you all." 

She thanks you. 

You reach down and grasp her hand and squeeze it. You reach out and shake his hand.

The elevator stops, the staff depart. The couple remains, and you ride down to the ground level with them - because you always walk through the lobby on your way to work, because you want to see the family, friends and loved ones of those for whom you care... and try to hold back tears. The elevator stops.

You pause for them to get off first, and she thanks you. As you walk behind, you recollect the card-access-only staff/service elevator that stopped at your floor earlier, and you let it pass because it had a bed with a fresh surgical patient and two surgical team members accompanying. 

You walk across the street breathing the brisk morning air, and shed the tears you earlier feigned holding back. 

You drive a few blocks to the Cathedral, see the priest in the parking lot walking his Golden Retriever, pause to greet him, rub the dog's fur, and Father asks how things are going. So you briefly recall from the top, then remark about how silky soft the dog's fur is. As he sniffs your athletic work shoes, Father says to his dog, "Do you smell the ER?" to which you reply, "He probably smells Queenie."

You walk in the building, share small talk with another parishioner, anoint yourself with holy water, walk into the sanctuary, to the monstrance, kneel, pray, cry, get up, find a seat, and because you're early, snap a creative pic, and tell your story as you await Mass to start.

I'm here for the ~ORIGINAL & BEST!~ happy meal.
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Taken on: November 15, 2015

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Sets appears in: • 2015 • iPhone 6

Groups appears in: • Religious Photos • GeoTagging Flickr more » • Our Catholic Walk • Middle Tennessee • SOOC (Straight Out of the Camera) • iPhoneography « less

Camera: Apple iPhone 6, f/2.2, 1/24 sec, 4.2mm, ISO 250 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Apple iPhone 6
Aperture:	f/2.2
Exposure Time:	0.042 sec (1/24)
Focal Length:	4.2mm
ISO:	250
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program:	Program AE
Exposure Mode:	Auto
Metering Mode:	Spot
White Balance:	Auto
Color Space:	sRGB
Software:	9.1
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