Energy and Presence

The screen saver on the computer in our den loops a series of photos that speak to our life story. It seems that as I walk into our den, more often than not the image of John on Machu Picchu greets me and touches my heart with an awareness of his presence. For I believe that if God is everywhere and heaven is union with God, then John is here. His presence, his spirit, his energy is in our memories, our thoughts, our daily lives. This truth allows me to be comforted by the wholeness and holiness that he now enjoys.

When Ken and I have been flooded with memories, thoughts, and experiences of John’s energy these past three months, they are John saying to us, “Hey, remember . . . ?”

And we do remember . . .

When John would occasionally call us simply to connect with his aunt and uncle, and I (being the faithful daughter of my mother) in the back of my mind would wonder, “What’s wrong?”

When Ken and I got hopelessly lost trying to meet with John, and he told us to stay put and assured us that he would look for a befuddled pair on the side of the road. (Where were we, anyway — Maryland? Virginia? D.C.?)

That he asked me to be his sponsor at Confirmation. (Was that because I was the only one willing to fly to Belgium? Of course, it goes without saying, I would have gone anyway because it was also Miss Jes’s First Communion!)

The phone conversation asking his aunt if there was any clever way he could convince his father that Virginia Tech was a five-year school for ALL the best and the brightest! (I think John’s plan was to say that the computer ate his thesis!)

That the last time we were with John was in December visiting PaPa in the hospital. As we exchanged Christmas gifts right there, Ken and I were delighted that Miss Jes had finally reached the legal drinking age so that our gift to the Leonard kids could be a case of beer. (Alas, it was not a case of Guinness or of the wonderful Franziskaner Hefe-Weissbier but a case of Smutty Nose, a microbrew from New Hampshire! So could someone please help them drink it? I think only wine gets better when left in the bottle to age.)

The timing of God’s gift to John of the fullness of life reminds us that God’s ways are not our ways, and our faith helps us believe that with God all things will work for the good.

But is there anything that we can know for sure?

This is what I know for sure:

That John is sitting at the heavenly banquet enjoying a drink with his Mammy, talking about their common enjoyment of things Irish.

That when he was met by the original holder of the moniker “John William,” they proudly shared stories of the son and the father who continue to bring honor to the name.

That John was greeted at Heaven’s gates by the whole communion of saints and was accompanied by all those who went before him to the throne of God.

And that when John saw the face of God, he recognized his mother and father.

John is blessed with aunts and uncles who have a diversity of talents and gifts. Mine happens to be theology (Wasn’t he thrilled with our Christmas AND Easter cards!), so we end this posting with this thought:

Pope John Paul II spoke of the family as a “school of love.” The pope taught that the family has four tasks: to form a community of interdependent persons, who would serve life, participate in the development of society and share in the life and mission of Christ. All who know John — or Bill or Clarice or Jes or Mike — have witnessed the lessons of love lived in the Leonard home. The self-gift and other-directedness that is true love is what has been and continues to be taught, caught, integrated, and shared in a mutual exchange of Grace. Blessed are we who are touched by this community of “A” students.

“You may for a time have to suffer the distress of many trials;
but this is so that your faith,
which is more precious than the passing splendor of fire-tried gold,
may by its genuineness
lead to praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ appears.”

— 1 Peter 1:6–7

AT and UK

Our first photo of John,

taken at Jes’s Baptism.

Our last photo of John,

taken August ’06 in his apartment
after Mike and John took AT and UK
out for Moroccan beer!