Something new

"See, I am doing something new! Now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?"--Isaiah 43:19b

Today is the 9th anniversary of the death of a wonderful lady in our parish named Maxine. At least, that's what her holy card says. But June 13 was simply the day that her good friend Ann found her body, sitting in her chair with her feet propped up, facing the TV which was tuned to EWTN, just as she had been when she had her heart attack. All the evidence, though, points to her really dying on Pentecost evening, June 8.

Maxine was a wonderful woman, filled with the joy of the Lord and His Spirit. She had spent many years as a medical missionary nurse in Africa. In fact, one of the Ugandan priests in our area was born at a hospital where she was serving in the maternity ward. He was amazed to learn that because, as he later told us, he had always had a feeling that he knew her from somewhere. :)

By the time I got to know her, she was already retired, but remained very active in her retirement, serving in various ways. She was also active in our Carmelite group. In fact, she and I made our definitive promises on the same day.

But what I'll always remember most about Maxine is what happened that last Pentecost weekend. We were offering several opportunities for people to be prayed with that weekend. On Friday night, Maxine came to my partner and I for prayer. She said that the Lord had told her that He was getting ready to do "something new" with her, and she was so excited that God had something new for her! She couldn't wait to see what this new thing of God would be. So we prayed with her for this "something new" coming in her life, whatever it might be. On Pentecost Sunday morning, she stopped by the prayer ministers for prayer again, and I got to pray with her a second time.

Imagine my shock a few days later when I learned that she had died! But in the days and months and years since then, I have often reflected on what the Lord had said to her. From the Lord's perspective, the death of His faithful ones is simply "something new," a new phase in their eternal relationship of love with Him. Maxine didn't need to know exactly what the new thing was. It was enough to know that it was coming from the hand of her loving Father, and like a trusting little child, she looked forward to it with great excitement and joy.

Dear Father, thank You for Maxine and for allowing me the opportunity to get a glimpse through her into Your perspective on death. Whenever my time comes to approach death, help me to remember that it is simply "something new" in our relationship and to approach it with the same trust, excitement, and joy that she did. Amen.