My best friend in the whole world, Charles, who passed away 22 years ago from cancer was my mirror. We knew each other in a way that was almost psychic. Some of our friends called us "2 heads 1 brain". We could feel what the other was feeling from hundreds of miles away. At any given moment, one would call the other, we'd pick up the phone, and say "hey" to each other, and those "heys" were complete sentences. They were not just greetings, or how we were feeling, but they encapsulated the entirety of our shared experience. We saw ourselves in each other and I miss him every day.
My dear departed honorary Dad and partner-in-shenanigans, lovingly known to many as simply 'Dr Bob', was my Divine mirror.
At one of the darkest, most painful times in my life - when I was lost in the horror of an abusive relationship which I was then unable to recognise for what it was - Bob made me laugh, showed me that he valued the time we spent together, made me part of his family and helped me find enough of my fire and fight to survive my personal Purgatory.
He believed in me, unwaveringly, and would (lovingly) bend my ear when I was out of line.
Losing him suddenly in March 2014 was a devastating blow; even now, 7 years after his passing, I'm choked up with tears writing this.
But yet I am grateful for the sting of those tears because they remind me how _much_ I was loved when I felt most unworthy of it.
My son Axel. He made a mother out of me. He taught me what true love was, so different than how I had until then believed it was. Unfortunately he left this life very young but his time with me gave me back myself.
Merci beaucoup. Your writing that « I have only ever been loved into holiness, never shamed into it. » is spot on. Also a thank you for pointing out the work of Richard Rohr. I heard you mention him on your recent podcast and it got me spiritually digging into necessary but sometimes difficult thoughts and emotions. Nadia, we love you here in Quebec, Canada.❤️
I mentioned on your prompt that my dad was my mirror that i did not see until after he passed away, I was too busy smoking dope, sneaking his jim beam and chesterfield kings and trying to figure out girls to look into the mirror he was offering then.
I feel this way about anyone who’s ever really made me feel truly loved...people who could envision a more whole version of myself that seemed unattainable to me at the time, who felt inspired to help me grow. I don’t know if it’s psychology or God...or both. I tend to assume it’s both.
My Divine Mirrors are Libby, Tammy, and Judy. Realize I have tried to be a Divine Mirror for Tammy. It's been a truly humbling experience. Thanks for this writing.
My friend Deb. She saw a me who I wanted to be but who I didn’t think existed. She gave me permission to let people love me just as I was— and also to become more of who was hiding inside me.
My first husband. He saw and loved me when I didn't even know who I was. Because of his love, I was able to walk away from shame, an eating disorder, and into a greater understanding of God's love and grace. He was one of the most beautiful people I've ever known. Unfortunately he battled his own demon: drug addiction and died by suicide almost 4 years ago.
There have been many mirrors over the years. However, the one that I treasure is my best friend Donna. We are very 'typical' most of the time. However, we have a knowledge when the other is not OK. We live 900 miles away from each other. Might get 5 days a year of being in the same room. That changes nothing. We know when the other is trying to blow smoke up our ass... everything else pauses while we listen and be the cheerleader in the mirror for each other. While I am very blessed to have my choice of mirrors, I always look for the one with the most amazing eyes I've ever seen. With the brightest smile and most genuine tears. Our US - baffles people. We don't care. The unconditional love is so much bigger than the world watching, attempting to apply their own logic.
My best friend is my mirror of love. She is Jewish, I am German. She has founded a Jewish-Muslim friendship initiative in her area. And she supports my vocation into interfaith ministry. We are chosen sisters. I am eternally grateful for her presence in this world.
My high school special needs student, a refugee with her family from Syria sees me.
She has a mild form of cerebral palsy, speech, hearing, and intellectual deficits. But every day she says, “I love you.” Often she will pat my shoulder and say “You’re fine.” And today, as my supervisor left the classroom uttering a typical sarcastic farewell, Heba (my student) called out, “Good job, Ms Laurie!” to me and to him. He replied, characteristically “Awe cut it out!” When he left she caught my eye, gestured towards the door and gave me a thumbs down. And did it again. Maybe she’s OCD because she did it 3 times.
It’s a real mystery to me how “intelligent” she is, but in that moment I really knew she sees me. There’s a gift in language barriers between people that somehow enables deeper communication. In the most awful year in memory, she is my Angel.
Another great homily? essay? thoughts from the heart?? It is very hard to see the real person sometimes. Reminds me of a Bible passage where we are told to love our enemies--easy to love those we love, but hard to love someone we don't know, etc. Thank you for giving me something to ponder and hope to do a better job of seeing the person.
My best friend in the whole world, Charles, who passed away 22 years ago from cancer was my mirror. We knew each other in a way that was almost psychic. Some of our friends called us "2 heads 1 brain". We could feel what the other was feeling from hundreds of miles away. At any given moment, one would call the other, we'd pick up the phone, and say "hey" to each other, and those "heys" were complete sentences. They were not just greetings, or how we were feeling, but they encapsulated the entirety of our shared experience. We saw ourselves in each other and I miss him every day.
My dear departed honorary Dad and partner-in-shenanigans, lovingly known to many as simply 'Dr Bob', was my Divine mirror.
At one of the darkest, most painful times in my life - when I was lost in the horror of an abusive relationship which I was then unable to recognise for what it was - Bob made me laugh, showed me that he valued the time we spent together, made me part of his family and helped me find enough of my fire and fight to survive my personal Purgatory.
He believed in me, unwaveringly, and would (lovingly) bend my ear when I was out of line.
Losing him suddenly in March 2014 was a devastating blow; even now, 7 years after his passing, I'm choked up with tears writing this.
But yet I am grateful for the sting of those tears because they remind me how _much_ I was loved when I felt most unworthy of it.
My grandma, who died in 1995. I miss her every day. She was my biggest cheerleader.
My son Axel. He made a mother out of me. He taught me what true love was, so different than how I had until then believed it was. Unfortunately he left this life very young but his time with me gave me back myself.
Merci beaucoup. Your writing that « I have only ever been loved into holiness, never shamed into it. » is spot on. Also a thank you for pointing out the work of Richard Rohr. I heard you mention him on your recent podcast and it got me spiritually digging into necessary but sometimes difficult thoughts and emotions. Nadia, we love you here in Quebec, Canada.❤️
You can sign up to get daily emails from him: https://cac.org/category/daily-meditations
I love Rohr's daily emails. His books are great too, but can be a bit deep. I have read several. But his bite-size daily meditations are excellent!
I signed up for his emails and watched a few YouTube videos of his. Thanks, Sherry.
Thank You!
My friend of over 40 years is my mirror.
I mentioned on your prompt that my dad was my mirror that i did not see until after he passed away, I was too busy smoking dope, sneaking his jim beam and chesterfield kings and trying to figure out girls to look into the mirror he was offering then.
(Allrite I will say it i can't resist) I guess its a one way mirror now Haaaaaahaaaaa
I feel this way about anyone who’s ever really made me feel truly loved...people who could envision a more whole version of myself that seemed unattainable to me at the time, who felt inspired to help me grow. I don’t know if it’s psychology or God...or both. I tend to assume it’s both.
OMG. Thank You Nadia. This whole piece absolutely blew me away in awe. ❤️🙏
My Divine Mirrors are Libby, Tammy, and Judy. Realize I have tried to be a Divine Mirror for Tammy. It's been a truly humbling experience. Thanks for this writing.
My friend Deb. She saw a me who I wanted to be but who I didn’t think existed. She gave me permission to let people love me just as I was— and also to become more of who was hiding inside me.
My first husband. He saw and loved me when I didn't even know who I was. Because of his love, I was able to walk away from shame, an eating disorder, and into a greater understanding of God's love and grace. He was one of the most beautiful people I've ever known. Unfortunately he battled his own demon: drug addiction and died by suicide almost 4 years ago.
There have been many mirrors over the years. However, the one that I treasure is my best friend Donna. We are very 'typical' most of the time. However, we have a knowledge when the other is not OK. We live 900 miles away from each other. Might get 5 days a year of being in the same room. That changes nothing. We know when the other is trying to blow smoke up our ass... everything else pauses while we listen and be the cheerleader in the mirror for each other. While I am very blessed to have my choice of mirrors, I always look for the one with the most amazing eyes I've ever seen. With the brightest smile and most genuine tears. Our US - baffles people. We don't care. The unconditional love is so much bigger than the world watching, attempting to apply their own logic.
My best friend is my mirror of love. She is Jewish, I am German. She has founded a Jewish-Muslim friendship initiative in her area. And she supports my vocation into interfaith ministry. We are chosen sisters. I am eternally grateful for her presence in this world.
Thank you.
My high school special needs student, a refugee with her family from Syria sees me.
She has a mild form of cerebral palsy, speech, hearing, and intellectual deficits. But every day she says, “I love you.” Often she will pat my shoulder and say “You’re fine.” And today, as my supervisor left the classroom uttering a typical sarcastic farewell, Heba (my student) called out, “Good job, Ms Laurie!” to me and to him. He replied, characteristically “Awe cut it out!” When he left she caught my eye, gestured towards the door and gave me a thumbs down. And did it again. Maybe she’s OCD because she did it 3 times.
It’s a real mystery to me how “intelligent” she is, but in that moment I really knew she sees me. There’s a gift in language barriers between people that somehow enables deeper communication. In the most awful year in memory, she is my Angel.
It’s a far greater gift than I ever imagined.
Laurie G, CT
Another great homily? essay? thoughts from the heart?? It is very hard to see the real person sometimes. Reminds me of a Bible passage where we are told to love our enemies--easy to love those we love, but hard to love someone we don't know, etc. Thank you for giving me something to ponder and hope to do a better job of seeing the person.