April 13, 2007
Rev. Regina Maria Cross

Sister Lenise was my first, first grade teacher. She had this way of making you feel you were the only person on the face of the earth who existed when she looked at you even as you stood amidst 29 other children adoringly surrounding her. I watched her do it, validate our existence one by one, knowing even at the wise old age of 6, I was in the presence of one of my Great Teachers in life. It was a sad day for me at age seven, when I was transferred from Sacred Heart to Annunciation School loosing my daily contact with Sister Lenise, although I would run down the steps of Sacred Heart Church each Sunday after Mass just to stand by her side. It was her energy of love I wanted to be around. To this day when I think of her love fills my heart. We all have teachers through out our lives and if we are lucky we get Sister Lenise at least once.

Well, I am a very lucky Gal. Let me tell you. As an enrolled student at Sancta Sophia Seminary in Tahlequah, Oklahoma I met with the Dean, was taught in some classes by the Dean, ate lunch with the Dean and even renewed my Baptismal Vows with the Dean. In truth, I do not remember what sparked the realization but it was three years into my schooling when I realized that the Dean, Rev. Carol Parrish, Ph.D. was one of my Great Teachers. Through the first three years of seminary I had watched some become enamored and others emotionally attached in some way to Rev. Carol Parrish. I also watched the gentle way she allowed their love, mirroring it directly back to them while not attaching herself to it. I was in the state of discernment holding the energy of loving detachment. “The path to adulthood is walked by discernment; discernment requires Sophia.” (Quoted from Carol E. Parrish in her latest book, Sophia Sutras, Introducing Mother Wisdom.)

Suddenly, or not so suddenly, one day as I sat at my computer writing surely another paper for one of my classes, I realized, “Rev. Carol Parrish is one of my Great Teachers!” It hit me like a thunderbolt. Had I been blind, rebellious, and possibly idiotic these past three years? Call me slow…I immediately wrote her a letter of gratitude. She replied as if I were the only person who existed among the hundreds calling for her attention daily. It was the Sister Lenise effect! Carol Parrish validated my existence long before the thunderbolt, never presuming she should be held up unattainable as “we live and breathe and have our being” co-working in loving service of humanity, she in a much larger fashion than my own.

Just now for fun I looked up the meaning of their names wondering if there is a connection. Lenise means “Discerning Spirit”. Carol means “Joy of God”. It was the “Discerning Spirit” of love that bought me to the realization of the “Joy of God”.

Great Teachers! My wish for you is to meet this Great Teacher, Rev. Carol Parrish who just so happens to be a world renowned Mystic, Author, Teacher, Counselor and Minister.

You have the opportunity to do so this coming May 4, 2007 at 7:00pm as she lectures at Sugar Magnolia Cafe on ”Life…Using Intuition, Imagination and The Divine Within” and again on May 5 at Light Paths – Centre For The Healing Arts during an all day Retreat open to all as we “Discover The Personal Trinity At Work Within You.”

You have heard the statement, “When the student is ready the teacher will appear”. The other side of this is true as well, when the teacher is ready the student will appear.

Everyday each person we come in contact with, if we are aware in the moment teaches us something, as we do the same for another in appropriate timing. We learn, integrating lessons into our lives possibly unaware becoming someone’s teacher the next day, or the next or the next. If you have been as blessed as I have, we can then turn and share the Sister Lenise- Carol Parrish effect with all those with whom we come in contact. To do so daily is our work and blessing…Just A Thought.

You can learn more about Rev. Carol Parrish at Sancta Sophia’s website. Register for Carol’s upcoming lecture at Sugar Magnolia and the Retreat at Light Paths – Centre For the Healing Arts while exploring and discovering enriching classes, courses, workshops and more retreats held at Light Paths and The Sophia School of Wisdom by logging onto our website at www.light-paths.org, e-mailing at info@light-paths.org or calling 410-758-3589.