Beautiful setting for my presentation.
I recently visited Corpus Christi, Texas because I was invited by the Bishop and staff to be the primary presenter at a diocesan retreat day. The day of travel was pretty much uneventful and I was happy at the end of the day to see the Deacon who was waiting for me the airport. I was taken to a small restaurant and enjoyed a Mexican type of salad (the first meal since breakfast). We chatted and I thoroughly enjoyed getting to meet this gracious Deacon as we compared notes on mutual friends and about matters of the faith.
It was getting late and I was fading fast after that long day of travel. The Deacon drove me to my hotel and said he’d be back the next morning at 7:15 to take me to the event. Pretty much all hell broke loose after he dropped me off. I’ll perhaps fill you in on the details later on. Suffice it to say that it was not a pleasant evening and I had less than one hour of sleep that night (or shall I say, “morning”?). And in the morning, to add insult to injury, I found this frightening looking knife on my chair of my hotel room!
Actually, I just missed sitting on it. I have to say, my life is very interesting. 🙂 A similar thread (having to do with violence from a knife and an Eagle which is represented on the knife) was woven throughout the next couple of days as well–but this time with amazing graces of transformation becoming very apparent. Perhaps I’ll write about them later. I think I will mention one of the transformations at an upcoming talk.
Back to the retreat day presentation…I would be presenting talks throughout the entire retreat day. I am not a coffee drinker so no help in that department and I couldn’t seem to find a cup of caffainated tea to save my life! I have some health issues that are hugely affected when I am sleep deprived so it would surely have to be God’s grace to keep me standing at the podium (or perhaps I should say, “His grace to keep me from tipping over!”) I got a quick word out beforehand and asked for prayers from friends.
It turned out to be an amazing grace-filled day. I am thanking God. Here is an article printed in the Catholic magazine about the event. I look a little sleepy in the photo used at the beginning of the article. 🙂 There are many additional photos at the bottom of the article.
Pray for me please. The journey continues…
God bless you!
Donna-Marie
