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SHERRI: > Mike, I checked out your website
http://michaelguth.com/about.htm > is this the one you refer to?
Fascinating!
MIKE: Yes. You are such a smart cookie!
SHERRI: Couldn't find the key charm, but looks like lots of angels
have been there!
MIKE: I take part in a Friday rosary prayer group, and I told the
little old ladies (most of whom are in their late 70s or 80s) about
the charm falling off. They just smiled but did not think it was any
"message" from my mother or anything spiritual. I have no idea why it
would fall off except to draw my attention as if to say she needed my
prayers. Would you like me to take a picture of the charm? I felt a
little silly about mentioning it to the little old ladies, because
they treated it lightly -- almost as a joke.
SHERRI: Spirituality is all about survival in the world of
contradictions that we are born into. We all arrive here in some sort
of "group" (or "groups") which - to survive - has placed the "group's
need" above that of the stranger. . .That's this world! One would die
from despair if we couldn't hope for the "next" world, for "another
way of thinking" that was less contradictory! In the meantime, we
struggle looking for guidance to live in the best possible way that
will bring us closer to God and unity in our thought, word and actions.
MIKE: That is profound. You are a profound thinker. If the leaders
of world religions could echo these thoughts, there would be much less
religious strife and more recognition of the sancity of all human life
-- friend and enemy alike.
SHERRI: Don't let possible "key" signs "spook" you, take them as a
show of love and affection ... that you are cared for and are being
"looked after". As you begin to sense the action of the "invisible"
love all around you, you will be amazed at what a powerful force for
good it can be in this world.
MIKE: You are right. My problem is that I am so anxious to
reestablish dialogue with my folks that I am vulnerable to think any
small sign is actually a mesage from them to me. Since my mother
died, I have only had one very brief dream that might be considered a
spiritual encounter -- I hugged her in the dream and it felt so good
to be close to her again. I need that once a week, and I don't get
it. Other people tell me that they have had a dozen dreams about
their deceased loved one, or better yet, they have had wide awake
sensing of their presences. I would love to report that I experienced
that, but I haven't.
Still, I resolved to pray for my dad every day since he died in 1990,
and I have kept that promise to myself. I have now added my mom to
the evening prayer since her death. What really makes a difference I
think is this group prayer rosary. We get a "plenary indulgence" for
saying the rosary as a group in front of the Blessed Sacrament exposed
in the monstrance. Although I was skeptical of the "plenary
indulgence" part, I felt these rosary prayers -- 5 decades -- have a
powerful effect in the spiritual world. So I offer my indulgence to
my two parents. In return, I feel they have watched out over me,
protecting me in particular from getting involved with people who
would drain my resources and in some sense drain life away from me.
SHERRI: Let Love continue to Lead your way (as it surely did with
your Alzheimer's research, nature pictures, etc.) and hold your dreams
> precious (both daydreams and dreams at night). If our dreams are
one-and-the-same as God's hopes for us, they can very easily "come
> true" ... what freedom and joy! Like "Becoming Our True Self"
(there is an audio tape by Merton on this topic too
> http://www.thomasmertonbooks.com/thomasmerton/audiobooks.asp )...
> I see your book's title is "Becoming Who You Are: Insights on the
> True Self from Thomas Merton And Other Saints" ... hmmm Other
Saints, sounds like Merton's halfway there! ... now, if they would
just publish this in the Italian language (just dreaming again :) )
MIKE: I think you are going to be a spiritual advisor for me. I have
seen other people post messages on here and mentioned their "Spiritual
Director." I don't have one. You have good common sense and a good
grasp of the spiritual world. I can learn from you.
SHERRI: I saw the Bellarmine knight statue for the first time in 2004,
> upon returning to Louisville for my father's funeral (dad is buried
> in the military cemetary of Lebanon, KY ... very close to
> Gethsemani). Although I currently live near Rome, my family has
been in Louisville for many generations ... in fact, Bellarmine's
> president's "offsite" residence was built by my great great
> grandfather (it was his summer home, an "Italianate" mansion!)
MIKE: What is it about a statue of a Knight on horseback with snakes
around the horse and one on its mane that inspired you. You said the
statue turned your life's course or saved you. What about this statue
and the inscription touched you so deeply?
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