When God touched the Dash.

When God touched the Dash.

I was driving my bus towards the city on Henley Beach Road, my mind mulling distantly over the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises which had been assigned for me that week, which were specifically the events and occasions that happened whilst Christ walked his road to Calvary. I used my imagination and feelings to reflect upon “The Last Supper” and the “washing of the disciples feet” and to think upon Jesus as he prayed during his severe trial in the Garden of Gethsemane. There is so much love emitted by the Lord at this time, however there is a sad feeling at the end of the Last Supper, as they all sing a hymn ... (the disciples have no idea of what is about to happen, but they know something is in the wind: Might they betray Jesus somehow as he had suggested someone would? What was happening here?).

Anyway, I was pondering these things in the back of my mind, when I was suddenly struck with a strong reminiscence of the last time I saw my Papa, years ago. My beautiful grandfather was dying, and I went to see him alone for what was to be the last time. During my time with him, he told me he loved me, even though he was in a trance-like semi-unconscious state. Suddenly, his eyes beamed and he smiled the most beautiful smile, and he looked up. I’ve never seen him as delighted and as happy as at that moment, and in my heart I truly believe he was seeing into heavenly realms. But then that subsided, and we spent some more time together, and he became sad again as we said our goodbyes, and I thought to myself that the saddest thing Papa was feeling, was not that he was going to die, but that he was leaving me behind. He was going to miss me.

As I reflected upon this thought, I had to stop my bus, as the traffic lights had gone red, and I found myself at the Lochley’s intersection, in front of the Anglican Parish of Lochleys church, beneath the large sculpture of the Crucified Christ that overlooks the main road there. I crossed my heart as I usually do when I pass that spot, and gazed upon the image. My front window was slightly open, and a cool gentle breeze touched upon my face. Suddenly a single leaf, fluttered through and landed upon the dashboard of my bus. In the sunlight, the leaf glowed with a luminous ochre-red fluorescence, but the top edges of the leaf were a beautiful jade-green colour. I quickly gazed around and noticed it was a different type of leaf from any of the trees I saw around me, and concluded it may have 

come from the roof of the bus. It was not from this place.

I held the leaf briefly, as the intersection lights changed colour again, signalling that my journey must continue, and I said another quick prayer. For me, this was a God moment, and a symbol of my reflections at that time as being blessed by my Saviour. When Jesus was with his disciples during those last moments, the torment was creeping upon him, like that ochre-red shade upon that leaf. He only had a few short moments left, and one of his greatest sadnesses, was that he would miss his friends. Every moment is precious beloved.  Let us treasure one another whilst we have the opportunity.