When I was a child, I was raised in the Anglican Church, and when I was married, I converted to Catholicism. The two religions are very similar, so it was not a difficult transition. Since then, I am what you might call a "lapsed" member of any formal, organized religion. I am, however, a spiritual person, and I do believe one can be spiritual without belonging to any particular relgion. I also believe in guardian angels. I think they are all around us, and they manifest themselves through our friends and acquaintances, our families, and even sometimes through strangers. And I do believe that when it is our time to make the transition from this world to the next, our guardian angel is here to guide us.Yesterday as I was walking home from work, I saw a man sleeping on a park bench. He was sitting upright with his hands folded in his lap, his head back, his mouth open -- and it was pouring rain. As I approached him, I could see instantly that he was more than asleep. The paramedics were called, but there was nothing they could do for him. I wondered how long he had been sitting there, with passersby glancing over, looking at the sleeping man. Perhaps hours... In repose, he looked very peaceful, and I hoped his guardian angel had been there with him.
Keep an eye out today for guardian angels. They are all around us, and they help us in ways we cannot even imagine. Perhaps they even work through us.
"These things I warmly wish for you: Someone to love, Some work to do, A bit o' sun, a bit o' cheer, And a guardian angel always near." ~~ Irish Blessing
My experience with religion is similar to yours. I'm very content with spirituality. I'm not sure about guardian angels, but I'm willing!
ReplyDeleteSpiritual not religious - that's a nice definition which suits me too.
ReplyDeleteI do believe in a Supernatural Power (God and his angels), but keep away from organized religion.
However,I usually say that I prefer
those who pray to God to those who think THEY are GOD.
Beautiful post, Jo. Despite the sad cirucumstances, I got a peaceful, lovely feel as I read it.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your sentiments on organized religion, and guardian angels,too.
The image you added is truly beautiful, and the Irish blessing is perfect!
May this man's guardian angel carry him to paradise on her loving wings.
Jo, I have some good news for you and some not so good news. First, you are positively going to heaven. But you are going to be on the staff.
ReplyDeleteLOL at Bruce - I can see it now :)
ReplyDeletethe bible is chock full of angels, and we
ReplyDeletewould be silly to deny their existence.
won't we be surprised when we are
escorted by our precious guardians to
see what our earthly eyes have missed
all this time?
I believe in guardian angels. I talk to mine pretty often, and although they don't answer, I have no doubt they hear me.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you found him, Jo, and that might have been his guardian angel guiding you to him. Also LOL at Bruce's comment!
It sounds like he went very peacefully and quickly. There surely must have been an angel there for him!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful post. And thank you for taking the time to actually look and see that man.
ReplyDeleteTerribly sad to know the man was there, dead, nobody stopping until you came along. On the other hand, perhaps, according to your description, he died quite peacefully. Perhaps you were his guardian angel...
ReplyDeleteMy experience with religion is also similar to yours, and I believe we have guardian angels and that they work in and through us, for us and for others.
ReplyDeleteOh, what a sad thing for you Jo, to come upon a man who has fallen into the sleep beyond awakening in this world we know.
ReplyDeleteI too believe in guardian angels and have one story of them I may post sometime in the future.
My husband and I have long since distanced ourselves from organized religion, but not from God. Big difference between the two ,you obviously know.One thing we have learned, appearances are not always what they seem, and one can easily encounter angels unaware. Just make sure they are angels of God !Great post. I hope you are well Jo.
A tender and thoughtful post. I believe in angels too Jo.
ReplyDeleteIt must be lovely to be able to believe in guardian angels. Most comforting. It must help you to enjoy life to the full and to not be afraid of death.
ReplyDeleteHow sad. But I also believe that one has guardian angels watching over you.
ReplyDeleteI also believe in angels. I also agree with your assessment of Spiritual vs Religious. Unfortunately when some people say "Spiritual" they mean "SPOOKY"
ReplyDeleteI do not subscribe to any religious or superstitious beliefs nowadays but wish happiness to all who do.
ReplyDeleteShould there be such guardian angels then I hope that one of them will care for my darling daughter Clare who, this month, has been diagnosed with a brain tumour, (of the pineal gland in the very centre of her 34 year old brain).
We are devastated.
If there IS some supernatural being such as God I wonder why he/she/it has inflicted such an awful curse on my innocent daughter, her two children and the rest of us?
Philip, your comment popped up in my email and I had to respond even tho' this isn't my blog.
ReplyDeleteI hope God or anyone's higher being is with your daughter. I do believe in one. My prayers are with you and her.
Thank you, California G.
ReplyDeleteI would like to believe that I have a guardian angel, but wish that such a being would send me a sign I can't miss.
ReplyDeleteI am deeply saddened to hear about Philip's daughter, Clare, and wish her and her entire family a miraculous healing. It's impossible not to question why a beautiful, innocent and most valuable person becomes ill because it defies all reason.
Wow!!Its a lovely post! In my religion, there are no such things as angels, but after reading your post I might start to believe in them :)
ReplyDelete