… I realise the car is no longer moving
\nand he is waiting for me to get off my phone
\nso we can go in. This is a difficult call
\nto cut short. It is just as difficult a call
\nto continue because I realise I cannot
\nchange anything.<\/p>\n
As we walk in, he tells me
\nwhat this place is. It is the
\nBah\u00e1’\u00ed house of worship, a place
\nof reflection and prayer
\nfor everyone,
\nirrespective of their
\nreligion.<\/p>\n
Every decision I have made
\nin my life
\nhas brought me to this place
\nat this exact moment.<\/p>\n
It is serene, despite the crowd. I listen
\nto him speak as I lose myself
\nin the architecture.<\/p>\n
When we finally sit
\nin the silent temple, barefoot,
\nmy tears break the dam
\nI have been carefully crafting.<\/p>\n
This is the only place
\nI need to be
\nin this moment.
\nAnd there are so many things
\nI want to pray for,
\nmy mind explodes in a riot,
\noverwhelmed.<\/p>\n
Breathe.
\nLet go.
\nBe silent.<\/p>\n
What is the least selfish thing
\nyou could ask? For the one person
\nyou know who has
\nspent a lifetime protecting
\nand uplifting her family
\nwith prayer?<\/p>\n
No pain.
\nNo fear.
\nNo sorrow.
\nNo guilt.<\/p>\n
And whether she survives this
\nor not.
\nPeace.<\/p>\n
Nothing missing and
\nnothing broken.
\nOnly peace.<\/p>\n
So I pray for peace
\nfor my beloved grandma.
\nAnd I cry
\nbut I do not mourn.<\/p>\n
And I will
\nwait
\npatiently
\nfor the next phone call.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
Please grant me
\nthe serenity
\nto accept things I cannot change
\nThe courage
\nto change the things I can
\nAnd wisdom
\nto know the difference<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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