Elegant Grace

Elegant Grace. Say it to yourself, feel it, think about the words "Elegant Grace". What comes to mind? A situation that required not only elegance but grace. Or perhaps the image of a movie star or well known person comes to mind when you hear the words "elegant grace". It could trigger any number of things in ones own mind when they hear these words, or even see them, for me however it means something different.

This post "Elegant Grace" has been a difficult one for me. The words are there, the thoughts are there, however pulling those thoughts out and getting them written down have been elusive, quite an understatement (to say the least). I've ping-ponged in my mind this blog; for today the challenge will be (a challenge to myself ) to finally get this particular blog written. Here goes........

(for those who get an automatic notice of my blog - more will be written later)... Okay, so it's later, well not later, but the next day..... waaaay later. I said this was one I'm having putting down on paper. Now mind you this is merely how I see/feel Elegant Grace, and of course Elegant Grace certainly is not a fit-all for everyone.

Continued experiences of the past year have swirled about in my mind and heart (as if by storm, and so pleasantly unexpectedly). Imagine if prior to an experience you overheard on a bullhorn...

"Attention, attention, you (meaning myself) will be interacting with the elderly population of your community (mainly 80+ year olds). This experience will transform you."

Hmmmmmmm "Transform me? How? Is this good? Is this bad? What's going on" (these thoughts run through my mind... to which I hear more....)

"Yes Barney, I'm speaking to you. Listen carefully, listen deeply. You will find something (really what this voice means is blessed) from these interactions that will astound you, amaze you... provide your heart with an appreciation you've never quite felt before". (Huh, what is this voice talking about). Oh it goes on......."An appreciation of self, of family, of life and this will be provided to you through those who have achieved within themselves an Elegant Grace".

"Hmmmmmmmmm are you really sure you have the right Barney, you really are speaking to me?"

Now mind you this is just something I throw out there - of course I had none of this inner self talk, and didn't even have an idea how profound such interactions would be..... then one day they happened. Elegant Grace found me, found me where I least expected it, and when I least expected it. An affirmation so intense I found solice and just cried..... not from sadness but from (gosh I won't describe this appropriately) a shear overwhelming sense of the feeling of being home, and being where one belongs, and knowing HE (God our Savior) is beside me, guiding me.

So you ask, Elegant Grace? Come on, what does it mean. Well, again, hard to explain. Elegant Grace (as best as I can humanly describe it) is the combination of a persons experience in life (an elderly person) that has manifested to something glorious, something so sincere, honest, breathtaking, open, appreciative, and loving far beyond what any words could describe (at least by this writer). It's almost as if you can see HIM in and through their eyes, feel HIM in their words. Then that connection is made that is so intense the world stops around you. You are ever present.

This experience of Elegant Grace first came to me one day as I sat holding the hand of a woman dieing. So unafraid (she was). Asking of me questions directly to me about dieing, about did 'I know she was dying', about what I thought, about her fears. I have no idea how long I sat with her (it didn't matter). Only that moment mattered.

I remember the day she passed, I remember seeing her, not saying a word to her, our eyes meeting, knowing she was on her way home. It was as if HE spoke to me himself through her eyes and told me so. I felt an overwhelming sense of "joy" for her, she knew, she was okay, and HE was with her. Through that moment our eye meet, we said goodbye. She was a vision of HIS glory, and she smiled a smile I will never forget. Within 5 minutes she was gone. I found solice, I cried....

It was on that day that my journey began, and continues through repeated and numerous interactions. Yes I am beginning to understand the voice over the bullhorn....... "Attention, attention, you will be interacting with the elderly population of your community. This experience will transform you." ..... "You will find something from these interactions that will astound you, amaze you... provide your heart with an appreciation you've never quite felt before".

This my friends is Elegant Grace. This my friends is an experience that only HE can provide, in HIS time, something I find hard calling an experience, but rather a Blessing from above.

If for not one day I implore you to seek the interactions within the day and see beyond the world as we see it, but look deeper .... and I truly believe you too will find Elegant Grace.