Gentle Reader,

Bleeding Hearts in Our Flower Garden

My heart stopped when I read the stunning news in an email from our friend, C.

His dear Nani is gravely ill, it read.  In the hospital.  He doesn't think she will last much longer. This has all happened fast.  Knowing how much we love her, he asked if we would pray for her.

Yes, C knows well how DH and I love her, and I began instantly praying for her on the spot.  I gathered myself to tap out a quick response to C and Nani to let them know that I was with them with my whole heart and spirit. 

A short time after we met in the spring of 1996, Nani and I recognized each other as sisters from a previous life, even knowing the other's name in that life together. Our bonds, we knew, transcended what is earthly.

Through unabashed tears and in haphazard prayer, I stumbled my way into the hallway. 

~~~

Over two years ago, Nani surprised me by carefully swathing a large ceramic figurine with bubble wrap and sheets of tissue before stuffing it into a carrying bag and then handing it to me -- I felt, entrusting it to me -- as we were leaving after a private weekend together to warm and celebrate their new home in the rolling hills of Northern California.

She had been gifted with another statue of her "patron saint." She said one was more than enough and she wanted a good home for the original figurine. I graciously accepted her gift, unexpected as it was. Earlier in the visit, she showed me the private corners of her new home, pointing out this figurine out to me and telling me what it meant to her.  

This wasn't just a figurine to her, as it had kept her company through her health ordeal, an immense one that she, C, and her spiritual family had battled hard to overcome. It was this statue, she said, that kept her reminded of the comforting and benevolent presence of her patron saint, Quan Yin.  

Quan Yin

I understood the relationship: Quan Yin is to Nani as St. Michael is to me. 

~~~

Neither Nani, nor I, are religious in the organized sense, but we are deeply spiritual. The delicious irony of our spiritual paths is the "swapping" of cultural and spiritual icons in our lives. 

Nani's roots are European; she was even born and raised there, coincidentally in a French town, Poitiers, where my step-mother from Japan studied abroad at the University of Poitiers. Likely, Nani was raised Catholic; in this life, however, she is drawn to Eastern thought.  

My predecessors are from Asia and Hawai`i, but I am neither Buddhist or into idol worship. I am a non-descript universalist with spiritual leanings that are distinctly Western.  Although not Catholic, I am drawn to a number of saints as inspirations and role models: St. Terese of Lisieux from Nani's home country, no less; St. Francis of Assisi; and of course, St. Michael.  

The figurine of Quan Yin survived the flight home, barely fitting under the seat, heavily swathed as it was. Upon returning,  I quickly did an online search for information about Nani's patron saint, but there was precious little to be found.  I  read something about the figurine that represented her was to be placed facing North. So, the alcove at the end of our hallway was the perfect spot. 

Ever since, in my comings and goings, the figurine serves as a gentle reminder to send a positive thought and a protective prayer aloft, now and then, for Nani and C.  It has evoked many a warm smile of remembrance of our friends up North.

And so it was to the figurine of Quan Yin that I headed for today, upon receiving the terrible news.  I entrusted Nani in Quan Yin's care -- and asked for my own spiritual family's care, as well.  As one who knows taught me: when in need, call in all of your spiritual troops.  Respecting free agency/will, they often will not act or intervene unless specifically called.  

Ma ka inoa o ke Akua, ke Keiki a me ka `Uhane Hemolele. 
In the name of The Holy Trinity...

DH returned home and with one glance, I knew that he had checked his email just before he had left work.  We greeted each other with tear-streaked faces, then held each other, crying aloud for our friends, Nani and C.  

"Ohh, Nani." 

We indulged our emotions, boldly unleashing them. How we felt for Nani and C. Like us, they are totally devoted to each other.  Each is the other's EVERYTHING.  Any separation would seem an eternity.

DH said that he kept visualizing Nani in white, healing light all the way home.  There is power in two or more joining in prayer, and I led him to Nani's gift in the hallway and together, we summoned up our family in spirit and begged for help in providing our friends with strength, comfort and spiritual sustenance. 

We placed both in God's Light and asked that the matter be in accordance to the HIgher Power's Will.

Not ours.

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