I love meditating in my bedroom.  And I enjoy being watched … by statues.  They’re also quiet.

They’re my friends.  Jesus with his arms spread wide.  A boy angel balancing delicately on one foot.  A wee girl and boy under their umbrella.  An African woman with her hands together above her head.

The picture shows all except the upstretched lady.  They stand there loving me … and I return the favour.

And yesterday I added to my family:

Arlene and I were in the gift shop of the Carmelite Church on Burgstraat.  There were many wonders, including small books of poetry in Dutch – Rainer Maria Rilke, Rumi, Saint Teresa of Avila …

The room glowed with spiritual life.

And then there was her, looking so gracious in her blue robe, tenderly holding her son.  She kept looking at me.  I asked if she’d like to come to my home.  She smiled and nodded.

The statue says “Parent and Child” to me.  All the possible combinations:

Mother and son

Mother and daughter

Father and son

Father and daughter

A two-way love

May it always be so