Walking through neighborhoods of quaint homes and hilly streets, I'd wondered if I'd taken the right directions, then, I looked up and saw it. It was just like the pictures I'd seen over the years. I dreamed of walking through it's tranquil paths, smelling it's fragrant flowers and feeling a sense of spiritual calmness in the gardens and within it's walls. The Carmel Mission
Entering, I was filled with wonder, as I read it's history since 1771. It was built on the site of the original adobe church with stone quarried from the nearby Santa Lucia Mountains. It was the first California Mission Church to be built from stone.
I entered the small gift shop, where I looked to purchase a very small cross necklace.
The sales clerk helped me to find the very right one, just what I was looking for.
She inquired why I wanted such a small necklace? I replied, "I feel God often reveals Himself in the smallest ways, and this small cross reminds me to look for me to look for them". We seemed to become instant friends and realized we had a common bond sharing the same birthday (which had just passed), and many other interests. That friendship has lasted a couple years now, and I am so thankful God led me there at that moment, that day. I had planned on going to the mission the day before, but was unable to, as the day just "got away" from me. I found out, if I had gone then, my dear friend wouldn't have been working, so we may have never met. during my stay in Carmel, her and her friend took me to see the sunset in Pebble Beach to enjoy hearing the famous evening bagpiper as the sun goes down. A daily tradition since the Inn at Spanish Bay opened.
The sales clerk helped me to find the very right one, just what I was looking for.
She inquired why I wanted such a small necklace? I replied, "I feel God often reveals Himself in the smallest ways, and this small cross reminds me to look for me to look for them". We seemed to become instant friends and realized we had a common bond sharing the same birthday (which had just passed), and many other interests. That friendship has lasted a couple years now, and I am so thankful God led me there at that moment, that day. I had planned on going to the mission the day before, but was unable to, as the day just "got away" from me. I found out, if I had gone then, my dear friend wouldn't have been working, so we may have never met. during my stay in Carmel, her and her friend took me to see the sunset in Pebble Beach to enjoy hearing the famous evening bagpiper as the sun goes down. A daily tradition since the Inn at Spanish Bay opened.
 As I stepped from the bright sunlight into the opening to the basilica, I was immediately touched by the radiance and beauty of my surroundings, my eyes drawn to the altar. |  |
 Looking around at all the beautiful glass windows. I noticed a crack in one of them, but the sun still shone through, radiant. That broken window wasn't replaced, it was still beautiful, through it's imperfection. Reminding me of a devotion I'd written years ago "Broken, But Still Blessed." How God can still use us through our imperfections to bless us and others. |  I found my place in an old wooden pew, which was evident that many others before me had also settled into this very seat   |
I look back on that day, and am so thankful I was given the opportunity to meet a special friend, and experience a beautiful broken window to remind me, it's okay not to be perfect. being imperfect, we can still shine through
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