After a week on retreat and going to see the ‘hot house flowers’ last night I woke up exhausted this morning.
I felt guided to driving into Cork city and after an hour or more in a coffee shop I went on one of my ‘Holy Spirit’ walks…this is when I feel a supernatural force around me and am guided where to go. After 5 minutes I ended up at the franciscan friary! I am not familiar at all with Cork so it was nice of God to guide me there. In I went and I literally cried for an hour as I felt the love and pain the Lord has for the mentally unwell. This is part of the intercession that I usually go through before praying with people.
A few people passed me by. After an hour a lovely blond haired lady asked if I was ok as she saw the tears which I couldn’t hide. I could tell she was from the travelling conmunity and inwardly I smiled that she was the only one to stop as many settled people say unkind things about the travellers.
After a few minutes of sharing she stopped and said ‘ there is something very different about you, a peace in your eyes, are you going to be a priest?’. I told her my life story and of the healing gift God gave me. She asked me if I’d pray for her.
I closed my eyes and saw her pushing a pram as a single mother, I sensed the rejection from her family. She was quite amazed and if I’m honest so was I even if I should be used to these things at this stage. I prayed with her. Sadly her child who was now grown up was in hospital with a mental illness. We prayed for his healing through the intercession of my o old buddy Pio!
She then asked me for some money and I confess getting a bit cynical but inside I felt to stay calm. I told her that I’m sort of a,traveller too and that financially I hadn’t much. I gave her ten euro and five sterling.
As we continued to talk she introduced me to her partner who was at the back of the Church and so I prayed with him too. We had a great chat. Finally I had to go and she offered to give me back all the money. I told her to keep it anyway but instead to say a prayer for me. They both prayed the most beautiful prayer for me!!
After all that the Holy Spirit guided me to ‘subway’ to eat a sandwich where I am now. I wonder what God has for me next!
What a strange life I have and yet how blessed I am to be the Lord’s instrument. It makes all the suffering worthwhile!
Appreciate your prayers. Keep the faith, be encouraged, God is real!
How the Lord loves the poor, the misunderstood. Give us your heart Jesus!