Today is the 20th anniversary of Shirley's death. By great, good fortune, Katie is here and this morning, Ellen, Katie and I went to the cemetery where Shirley and our daughter, Betsey, (Katie's mom ) rest side by side.
Betsey and Shirley
I read one of Shirley's prayers, from Be Present Here, which was perfect for the day, and we sat on the stone wall and remembered our dear ones while Gertie explored or lay on the wall in the sun.
Katie and Gertie on the stone wall
Here is the prayer:
Almighty God, praise be for
the morning, praise be for the light -- may we all shine! To be alive is to
wait in your presence, absorbed in your power, abashed by your purity, and
absolved by your compassion. You have given us our lives, O God, our time, our
space and our place. We ask that as the hours pass we may keep as treasures the
moments we spend with you -- changed and transmuted outside of time and space -
a few moments when we lift ourselves into the realm of the spirit. You are
here. We are here. May we be with you in spirit and in truth. We confess we
find it very hard to see changes, but change is part of your world and your
way. Help us to open our eyes, open our ears, and rejoice as your new spirit is
felt and known. And in this place, where we are so aware of death, knowing it can come so quickly,
unknown and unexplained, help us to be aware that you are in the midst of every
bit of our birthing, living and dying. Amen.
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