Everyday Miracles: Then and Now

 by Rev. Penny Clements

In earlier years, I called them synchronicities, and they are. Nineteen years into CLM, beginning with Ron and Paul igniting the Fire of the Holy Spirit within me, I call them miracles. And they are.
Preparing to write this, I was getting flooded with how many miracles I’ve experienced over the years, and how on earth do I choose. I finally decided to just surrender, listen, and share the ones that lit up. Five miracles came through. The first one was not even in my notes, because it was a healing journey completed long ago.

1. CHOSEN SURGEON— In 2010 my son was diagnosed with a brain tumor. My grandfather in England had died from that. I was terrified. After one of my son's first seizures, a dear friend said something I’ve never forgotten. “When it has to do with my child, I go to the Blessed Mother.” And so I did. That began an enduring relationship for me. As I became my son's medical advocate, we interviewed two neurosurgeons and neither was the right fit. On a therapist's recommendation, and using normal internet protocol, I contacted Johns Hopkins Medicine in Baltimore to schedule a third interview with a neurosurgeon. Lo and behold, the contact came quickly. "Hello, I am Dr. Brem’s nurse, calling to set up an appointment. He usually passes cases on to his residents, but he decided to keep your son’s case for himself.” What? Wow. Then I learned that Dr. Brem was the Chief of Neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins. OMG. Our first-miracle on the scary journey.

Dr. Brem was warm, reassuring, and humble. Humorous, too. A guided, easy choice. He offered to do the surgery the following weekend, but that didn’t work for us. My aunt had just died, and we were having her memorial service the same weekend. He was so easy to talk to, that I mentioned my aunt had served the DC Area Polish-American Community for many years; both in the Polish-American Arts Association and the Polish-American Congress, and I couldn’t miss her memorial. Dr. Brem seemed to understand, and, to my surprise said, “Both of my parents were Polish immigrants.” My grandparents too! My father was Polish. RON was Polish. OMG. At that moment, I realized my beloved Ron Roth, who had transitioned a year earlier, had sent the perfect surgeon to us. A Polish one, of course. I’ll bet my father and aunt were involved as well, as they were very proud of their Polish heritage.
I am sure Ron helped orchestrate the entire successful healing journey for my son...along with the Blessed Mother and so many friends from CLM and other related communities, who provided enormous strength and prayer support during that time.  A huge miracle for which I am eternally grateful.

Many miracles would follow, so I’ll mention just one. Nine days later, before being discharged, as I witnessed the surgical staples being removed from my son’s head, Dr. Brem’s nurse said to us all, “My, this is the first time I’ve ever seen so little blood with staple removal..just one or two little pin pricks is amazing.” And then, Dr. Brem’s requested pathology report was brought in. He happily reported to all of us that the meningioma he had just removed was indeed benign! Praise God!!

2. ORDINATION VISITATION FROM RON— I was ordained in 2011 at the Shrine of St Terese, a few months after my son’s surgery. I was positioned between Paul and Dana. At the moment Paul was ordaining me, I felt the powerful physical presence of Ron come in, near my forehead, and I cried. I had missed him, and missed being ordained by him. But there he was, ordaining me too!...Holy Smokes! In the Light of the Holy Spirit, ignited by Paul, Blossoming Padre, re-kindled by Ron, Visiting Padre, my two Beloved Padres had just ordained me together. Both And. Holy Fire. From both sides of the veil. OMG.

Then, per our tradition of giving gifts to participants witnessing my ordination, I said this: “Ours is a ministry of Light”, as I gave out golden beeswax candles, so that together or apart our Light could always shine brightly and always be felt.

3. BLESSED MOTHER STATUE— She became active in my life, and in 2014 helped with my cross country move to San Francisco to be closer to my biological and spiritual families. My desire to locate within a four block quadrant, in the peaceful, quaint neighborhood I had discovered the summer before, actually came to fruition. Lo and behold, I was planted across from St Paul’s Catholic Church in a building once owned by the church, and still carrying some benevolent energy for me and my neighbors. I soon learned this historic church had been the site where the original Sister Act movie was filmed in 1991. I’ve attached two lively videos from the soundtrack, which seem so relevant to today’s times, and also to our capacity to joyfully Celebrate Life, Praise God and Support one another at CLM. And wherever we may be. Around the corner on my street, each time I leave my garage, I am greeted by a powerful statue of the Blessed Mother, the one who drew me here. I often stop on the sidewalk to offer prayer requests and gratitude to her, sometimes when I have no words, or when I am struggling with something. Her energy is profound, and I’m so grateful for the miracle of living in this sacred space.

4. SCHOOLYARD MURAL QUOTE— Whenever I walk through my front gate, I am greeted from across the street by the brilliant, colorful St Paul’s Parish schoolyard mural, and its symbolic message painted under an image of the Holy Spirit Dove. It reads: "There are different gifts, but the same Spirit” — St. Paul…"We must work for justice, peace, education, ecology and equity for all cultures of the world.” This One Spirit quote on an all inclusive children’s mural, complete with city scenes and the Golden Gate Bridge, lights me up every time I see it, walk past it, photograph it… because it re-ignites the spark of my very first CLM event, when that 1st Corinthians scripture was read and imprinted permanently on my heart. So when I begin to compare or judge myself, all I have to do is go outside, go through the gate, and see that powerful reminder…
We may all have different gifts and abilities, but we are all born of the same Spirit…We are ONE in this global village we call home.

5. STATE OF GRACE ROSE—My very first rose bush came to me on Mother’s Day. My daughter knew I would love the name of the variety, State of Grace. I do! She was also happy to find one left in my favorite color, Peach. It has bloomed almost continuously in its pot on my patio, and is a miraculous gift of nature, as well as the perfect grounding cord for me.;) The sight and experience of witnessing these roses, from bloom to petal, on my altar and throughout my home gives me great joy, as well as joy in sharing with others. One of my last cuttings was a single stem adorned with at least five blooms...on the top stem. And nine more below. Many Blooms, One Stem. State of Grace indeed…