Dean followed the middle age friar down a long narrow hallway. As he looked at the beige stone walls, he wondered if he had made a mistake coming here for the weekend. He almost changed his mind when at last the friar opened a door at the very end of the hallway.
The friar smiled at Dean and said, "I hope you enjoy your stay. Let me know if you need anything."
Dean looked around the room as the friar dismissed himself. There was a simple, solitary bed, a desk and a chair. "Need anything? It looks like I need everything. This is so basic," Dean said out loud to himself. Dean sat at the edge of the bed and stared at the only thing hanging on the wall-a small, very simple crucifix. He just sat there staring at the crucifix as he tried to push away the problems brewing in his head. He felt as if things were really out of control in his life. Pressure was mounting in so many directions, and he couldn't see any solutions. He shook his head, looked at the crucifix and said, "My hands are tied, and Yours are nailed to a cross. I need help. You need help. How can either one of us do anything?"
Dean had buried his head into his hands when he heard the Lord's voice say, "There is something you could do. I would like you to find My mother and embrace her? It would please me a great deal." Dean hesitated for a minute. He did not understand Jesus' request. Jesus continued, "It is not your hands that are tied, but rather your heart and mind. Go find Mary and she will help you loosen that which binds you."
Dean looked around the room. Mary? He did not see any pictures or statues of Mary in his room. Dean was confused and wondered where he was supposed to find Mary. He wondered if maybe the friar knew where he could find Mary. Dean opened the door to his room and quickly walked down the hall searching for the friar. "Well that's just great," Dean thought to himself, "I can't find the friar either." The friar was no where in site. As Dean walked the hallway he saw a table with a small opened box containing rosaries. There was an adjacent sign that read, "Please help yourself."
Dean picked up a rosary and looked at the wooden beads. He hadn't prayed the Rosary in a very long time. He thoughtfully carried the rosary back to his room. He entered the room and enthusiastically said, "Jesus, I found Your mother!" Dean smiled at Jesus as he gently embraced the rosary. As he meditated on the mysteries of the Rosary that weekend, he began to see things differently and He felt more peaceful. Dean began to feel Jesus' love for Mary, and Mary's love for her Son. It was a beautiful, amazing experience of love.
The weekend passed very quickly and Dean discovered that he really didn't need much more in his room then the basics. He focused on listening to Jesus plea to embrace His mother. As Dean embraced Mary, Mary embraced Dean and loosened the knots that were binding him. Dean discovered something very important that weekend. He realized that if he continued to pray the Rosary with Jesus and Mary, his life would be filled with love and unimagined possibilities.
-Susan
