Wednesday Guest Blog

4-27-11 amazed brain
I've known Ann since the Spring of 2005, and as our friendship slowly grew, she kept surprising me along the way. Reading her guest blog this week was another of those moments where Ann's thoughts surprised me.... in a happy way! I was glad to be apart of her experiences last week as she moves forward.- Judy

Feeding the Soul and Mending the Heart

In more than one way, I live a complicated life which was born out of a complicated upbringing. With that said, I make no excuses or use it as a crutch not to succeed. So when my Dad died suddenly, I proceeded with the many tasks that needed to get done: check this, call them, clean this, do that, have a service, all while grieving and working. While I did this without skipping a beat, I knew the mechanics of my tasks would catch up with me if I didn’t feed my soul. Thank goodness two events occurred last week that not only fed my soul but allowed my heart to mend.

In February, peace sisters Judy, Sue and I agreed to attend the Broadway show Rock of Ages which was coming to the Civic Center on April 20th. We all love music, love the 80’s and love to hang out together. Here’s a synopsis of the show from their website:

In 1987 on the Sunset Strip, a small town girl met a big city rocker and in LA’s most famous rock club, they fell in love to the greatest songs of the 80s. It’s ROCK OF AGES, an arena-rock love story told through the mind-blowing, face-melting hits of JOURNEY, NIGHT RANGER, STYX, REO SPEEDWAGON, PAT BENATAR, TWISTED SISTER, POISON, ASIA, WHITESNAKE, BON JOVI and many more.

I’m not sure what I expected but after talking to an insider, the show was more of a rock concert. I pulled out the songs from the website as I knew we would be asking each other “what song is this and who sings it”? You know me, always prepared. Also, to get into the spirit of the 80’s and big hair, I got my hair done “big 60’s style”. The picture speaks for itself.   (Wax Lips from Judy's Halloween)

The show was great and the lead actor Constantine Maroulis, an American Idol alum, was outstanding. The evening lifted my spirit, began the mending of my heart with the love from Judy and Sue.

I stumbled upon the other event, Walking The Way Of The Cross, while reading the paper last Wednesday. I’ve heard about it, seen in the news but never understood why one would participate, other than a personal service to their religion. What hooked me to attend was the title “Way of the Cross procession relates Christ's pain to today”. http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20110420/LIFE05/104200301/Way-Cross-procession-relates-Christ-s-pain-today

That’s when I had my “aha” moment, thinking this is a productive and symbolic way to release my pain. I had no preconception of how I would feel, maybe just go and observe but carry the cross, not sure. After reading up on the meaning of the Way of the Cross, I made the decision to carry the cross. Judy had an interest so I was comforted by her company.

Prior to the walk, I wrote this as my status on FB:

On this Holy Friday I will release my pain, honor my Dad, remember the pain suffered by the Lord Jesus and all who have suffered and suffering by Walking The Cross, the walk Jesus walked as he traveled to his crucifixion.

The weather was gloomy and a small crowd of 40 or so attended, young and aged. The walk took two hours and was divided in eight stops representing 15 stations. Jesus ….

#1 Prays in the Garden of Olives
#2 Is betrayed by Judas
#3 Condemned to death by the Sanhedrin
#4 Is denied by Peter
#5 Is judged by Pilate
#6 Is flogged and crowned with thorns
#7 Carries his cross
#8 Is helped by Cimon of Cyrene
#9 Encounters the women of Jerusalem
#10 Is crucified
#11 Promises to share his reign with the good thief
#12 Is on the cross with his mother and disciple below
#13 Dies on the Cross
#14 Is placed in the tomb
#15 The Resurrection

I walked the Cross representing stations seven and eight, from Elsie Manor, a downtown senior apartment complex, to Nolen Plaza. The walk left me speechless and I did my share of weeping. As I carried the cross, I reflected on my Dad’s complicated life, the pain he never shared, the courage he had to start a new life at age 65, the horrific chain of events that led to his death. As I ended the walk, my tears were for the joy of his life, the honor to be each other’s keeper and the resting of his body and soul.

After the walk, I wrote this as my status on FB:

Inspiring, meaningful, emotional, I walked the cross to honor my Dad who is watching over me as I watched over him.

Both events lifted my spirit, fed my soul and began mending my heart. I know my Dad would have been very proud of me. This picture speaks volumes of how I felt.

Chat Later, That Girl

Ann Marie