From quite far away…

<<< 03/01/2024 A group of friends and I were going to Cifuentes, from quite far away. Some had dropped out at the last moment. In our car, we were traveling with another couple. Each of us was brooding over the setbacks we were leaving behind: last-minute work problems, the kids, untimely phone calls... Upon arriving in Cifuentes, I began to feel "at home": familiar faces, hugs, joyful reunions, the anticipation... But I also glanced sideways at those who had come with me and were experiencing it for the first time. I was worried they might not feel comfortable or understand. In fact, one of them was very upset when we were told we had to wear elegant clothes to the God Stop. I had found it hilarious, and to lighten the mood, my husband and I had packed gala attire worthy of a red carpet. Friday passed quietly; I left my worries in the notebook, or at least, that's what I thought I was doing. During the Homily, I felt overwhelming joy: that morning, when reading the Gospel, I had underlined in the Blank Bible "Here comes the dreamer" (Gn 37:19). I wrote it everywhere, even in my WhatsApp status. During lunch, I showed the phrase to my husband and wondered why they didn't make bracelets with that phrase. I had asked the Lord to be a dreamer, to have the courage to be one, even if they didn't understand me, laughed at me, tried to kill me with criticism, steal my image, or make me feel guilty for going to a God Stop. And I asked God for courage and strength for that. When Don Miguel paused on that phrase during the Homily, it was God confirming my intuition and that this God Stop was going to be about that. He was going to explain to me how not to stop dreaming. On Saturday morning, I started a bit distracted, thinking about how I was going to give my husband a gift I had brought (thanks, losers, and everyone else for helping me with the surprise), and that seemed to take me away from where I needed to be. Then, with the Lord before me, I heard Lucecita's breathing beside me. Luz was sleeping. I thanked God for having known her strength through Luz's story. I wrote: That you gift me to listen to Luz's calm breathing while she sleeps is to experience You, Your Love, that when we abandon ourselves in You You conquer and give us LIFE. When I finished writing that, Luz reached out her little hand, and I, shyly, stroked the palm, the one God knows by heart. To my amazement, Luz grabbed my fingers, as if asking for more caresses, and held my hand for a good while as I looked at the Bread. Ways the Spirit has to calm distracted souls... I loved meditating on the names I have given God throughout my life and my Salvation story. God confirmed what I had been sensing over the past months; He asks me to take the leap and trust, forgetting my own strength and what I believe are my virtues. To face life and battles against the world's standards, even if it seems crazy, almost suicidal, to go on my knees seeking the good of others, not my own immediate good. To be silent if what is about to come out of my mouth is complaint or reproach and not Love. To have patience knowing God has patience with me. And all this is hard for me, especially in work conflicts and even more so in marital arguments. Sharing all this with my husband helped us a lot; we felt God was in the middle of us and that He will help us in this adventure of entering His Mystery. It started to rain and get freezing cold, and the power went out all over Cifuentes. We all remained cheerful, lit by the flickering candlelight, without complaining or worrying even though without light, the night could be especially cold. When we were about to enter the Holy Hour of Praise, it began to snow heavily. We southerners were amazed, taking photos and videos. Someone hugged me and with a smile said: "How it snows! Grace is going to pour out." During the Holy Hour, I lost track of time; I could only look at the Lord and understand that He could not fit into the names I had given Him; I had tried to confine Him so many times in my miserable human concepts. If I am afraid to take that leap, what I have to do is repeat over and over that He is my Everything, my Strength, my Help, my Hope. To praise God while jumping. Like the child who shouts joyfully before sliding down the slide that scared him so much when he looked down and saw the slope. We were still without power, and I learned another important thing, especially for my husband: I can dress up and put on makeup in fifteen minutes and in the dark. When we reached the chapel door, we couldn't see each other. It was clear that the Lord wanted us to dress up for Him, for He is the Bridegroom, without us worrying about anything else. To get ready for Him and make ourselves beautiful in secret, in the darkness of the chamber, trusting. When I saw the Lord in His Custody down the chapel aisle, coming to marry me, I truly understood everything. At the moment of consecration, when Don Miguel raised the Bread, at that moment, the light came on. When he lowered it, the light went out again. The same happened exactly when he raised the Chalice. We all experienced such a gesture from the Lord with beautiful simplicity and naturalness, no shouts, no startles. God was with us, and we were on our knees before Him. I will never forget it. From this God Stop, Mass will not be the same; I will savor every moment, knowing that the entire Heaven attends my nuptial banquet. Living it like this, with these images, helped me accept and live what I had previously read it should be. I lived the mysticism of Saint Teresa of Jesus and understood my dear Saint Therese, and it seemed to me that it could not be a coincidence to live all this just two months before my daughter's First Communion. At the end of Mass, the faces were different. The hands, the hugs, the voices... They were different. We were the same but with something different, perhaps because we were more ourselves, we were REAL... The joy was radiant. And speaking of light, right at the after-party, the power came back so we could dance, dance embraced, dance living to the fullest that salvation story, leaving our personal little stories behind. Dance together under Martita's gaze, with tearful eyes of joy. Dance ALIVE. Glorifying God. I have no words of thanks, first to God, always, who wanted us to be there with our friends. To each person who shared the God Stop with me, with whom I like sharing more and more. To the losers, what a high bar of service, guys. I felt so good letting you take care of me. Thank you for your yes. To the guys who came to sing during the Holy Hour. Thank you, without a doubt God used your voices to touch every heart. To Don Miguel, who radiated beauty and truth, his words giving light and guidance, amazing Don Miguel, how much a mother's prayers help! (I loved seeing her again) And to Tomate, his care, his help, his work, his effort, how great you are Tomate! I felt so good it was hard to leave. Looking forward to coming back.... >>>