Thursday, February 26, 2009

WRITTEN ALL OVER HIS FACE

So, Ash Wednesday has come and gone.

Rojo survived.

He went to school and went to a mass at 11:00 on a Wednesday when everyone knows Mass is at 8:20 on Thursdays. Period.

And he went up for the marking of the ash cross on his forehead, and didn't wipe it off on his long-sleeved, white uniform shirt, 2 seconds later. (If I had a nickel...)

Then he came home and let out a string of Alleluias that had been pent up like firecrackers ready to explode. "Mom, I am going to watch 'Family Guy' and listen to all the bad words, and I am going to say 'Alleluia,' and I am going to say all the bad words they say on 'Family Guy' except 'stupid' and 'idiot' because I do not like those bad words."

As he's talking and wildly gesticulating, my eyes are fixed on that black cross on his forehead.

His astrological natal chart forms a cardinal cross.

He is my savior - that boy has saved me from myself. He personifies St. Francis' message, "Preach the gospel at all times, if necessary use words."

Eckhart Tolle eloquently talks about the symbolism of the Christian cross. He says the horizontal line represents this lifetime, with a clear beginning and ending, birth to death. The vertical line is the unending line, our soul, which is eternal.

Rojo lives perfectly where those two lines intersect: the now. His soul and horizontal life are always in alignment.

Always.

Alleulia.

20 comments:

Anonymous said...

Amen, sister!

Suzy said...

Alleluia.

contemporary themes said...

I'm crying at WORK that was so lovely!

When do I get to meet that boy!

Been reading St. Francis all week!

Kim said...

Alle-f'in-luia for Rojo!! I'm going to start thinking about him every time I listen to that gorgeous Wailing Jenny's song.

Wanda said...

Alleluia! x 10

Beautiful writing, Carrie.

Beautiful, beautiful boy.

"Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God."

Anonymous said...

Lovely - we could all learn a lot!

Anonymous said...

Lovely.

Michelle O'Neil said...

It's what we're all striving for. It's what he came to teach.

Love.

Lola said...

I love this. 'living in the now' i learn so much from rojo!

Lola said...

p.s. alleluia damn it!

Deb Shucka said...

Alleluia that you are here to share your brilliant son's wisdom with us. Thank you. Love you.

Angie Ledbetter said...

A little living saint, Halleluia!

Unknown said...

I look forward every day to seeing what you have written, what you will share with us. You inspire me in ways I cannot tell you--thank you. Your generosity of heart, in all ways, make you a gift to us all. And I very much appreciate your incredible choice of images, each day, the quotes, the time you take with your blog. I hope you never stop.

Jerri said...

COL.

Alleluia for Rojo.

Alleluia for you.

Alleluia for this gorgeous writing.

Forever and ever, amen.

Drama Mama said...

So this is what I was looking for on Wednesday.

Amen and Allah, Sister Souljah.

Anonymous said...

He is my savior - that boy has saved me from myself.

Alleluia

(from a lower case catholic)

Amber said...

"Rojo lives perfectly where those two lines intersect: the now. His soul and horizontal life are always in alignment."----

i love that. love it.

:)

Anonymous said...

Carrie, this post is so moving. I love how Rojo loves to say Alleluia. When I was a kid, I loved it too. I think I'll start saying it again! Alleluia!

Robin said...

Nice!

kario said...

I love that he immediately came home and wanted to watch "Family Guy."

:-)