On a recent family trip to New York I had the viewpoint from the rear of the Honda Odyssey. As Grandpa and patriarch of the family I realized it was my job to pray us through a safe journey.
I prayed for angels to surround us and protect us as we blazed our light through the dark and arrived safely at our bed and breakfast in Harlem.
I remember in Grade school how we used to pick teams for soccer or some other sport. In our spiritual lives we choose angels or their opposites. Our choice of the celestial beings for this journey had me rejoicing several times on this holiday.
You can find God in a New York minute! On our bus tour of downtown Manhattan I looked up at the heavens among the sky-scrapers and saw what seemed to be an image of Yahweh. I reached for my camera, but before I was focused the image had changed to the wispy white clouds I view as God's signature in nature.
I remember reflecting on the presence of the eight and one half million people, many of whom we saw on the subway or in Central Park. The subway and transit on a given day handles millions. I thought of the significance of one among the billions in our world and concluded that if God can care for each of the eight and a half million and six He can surely look after me.
I especially remember the impact of the twin towers site of 9-11. I took pictures of the hole in the sky above the memorial fountains. Roses placed for birthdays beside the names on the wall choked me momentarily. Some visitors still carried fresh memories of lost loved ones on their faces.
Sunday morning found us in Our Lady of Lourdes church in Harlem. This is as close as I've come to attending a "black" Mass. I liked the African American and Spanish influence in the songs and liturgy.
We clapped to "Can't nobody do me like Jesus" which included the message:
Picks me up when I'm down Jesus washed my sins away Nobody like Him / Can't nobody do me like Jesus / Can't nobody do me like the Lord.
there's someone whose love is real / Who cares about the way I feel. /There's peace when I call out your name / Jesus, You're my everything / The cross, You did that just for me. / I promise you / I'll spend my always with you / You take all my pain and erase every stain.
Much later, after returning to Saskatchewan, echoes of Harry Nilsson's song came to mind: I guess the Lord must be in New York City.
I discovered that you can find the Lord and be free even in New York City:
Well here I am Lord, knocking on Your back door
Ain't it wonderful to be, where I've always wanted to be
For the first time I'll be free here in New York City
