scent of jasmine

the church was empty but for an old man, his cane lying beside him, against the pew ... and his head was bent in prayer, fingers clutching rosary beads.

there was a stillness. then she moved forward, and dropped the letter into the slot, so full of hopes and thanks given for the many blessings and requests and petitions for the many people in her life: her family and friends ... she prayed for her Mother to bless them and keep them ... she had written the letter from the deepest and purest part of her being...

and then she kneeled at the pew, head cast down and her fingers clasped. she said nothing, but in her head, the words came out in a rush. she closed her eyes, and suddenly the scent of jasmine filled her senses. she opened her eyes, but there were only white lilies and bright yellow chrysanthemums...

she closed her eyes again, and felt time almost grind to a halt, it moved along so slowly and so gracefully. once again, she spoke to her Heavenly Father and her beloved Mother, honestly, humbly, ever realising how sinful and small she was.
and He answered her, gently, kindly ... and lovingly.

in the space where there were only her Father, her Mother and herself, she began to understand ... it mattered not that someone dear to her had ceased to believe in God, God Himself never ceased to believe in that someone, and thus the door was still open. she understood that her atonement for his unbelief was not wasted, and her prayers changed to let that one go into hands far gentler and far wiser than her own. she felt the first stirrings of peace in her heart for so long, since she had thought about this and despair and sorrow had washed over her, she stood helplessly.

she felt happy. and it struck her that a door had been closed to her forever, but she had not seen so many open windows, wide with possibilities she could only begin to imagine. she had spent too long staring at the door to see those windows. finally she began to look through the windows into the beyond, which called her by name.

saying 10 hail marys, the glory be, 1 our father and a memorare, she commended all her worries, concerns and love into her Father and Mother's arms.

as she got up from the pew, she looked at the sky. it was a shade of blue, deepening into the diffuse shades of dusky twilight. she expected the stars would come out soon...