A visit to Lourdes...

I was asked in the comments after my most recent health update if I'd ever considered a trip to Lourdes. In fact I have -- I went in the fall of 2005, during my first year living in Germany, as part of my first "European vacation". The following is an edited excerpt of an e-mail I sent to my family (with the above photo):

Lourdes is a famous pilgrimage destination, owing to the visions a 14-year-old nun-in-training named Bernadette experienced back in the mid-1800s. She was visited frequently by the Virgin Mary, who instructed her to pray for sinners among other things. As a sign that the visits were genuine, a spring suddenly started flowing from the rocks near the cave where the visits were taking place. Bernadette was simply instructed to wash her face and pray, and she drank a little bit of the water. But in the 150 years or so since, there have been many documented cures associated with the waters from the spring. I didn't go expecting any kind of cure for myself. I went for this reason as much as any other: to remind myself that God still works miracles, and that I should be open to putting myself in a position to receive one. I spent 2 days praying, reflecting, and otherwise being reminded that I am wonderfully blessed, in spite of my current struggles. I don't know what the Lord has in store for me -- who among us knows how many days we've got? -- but I know that today, so long as I've got breath within me, I should trust Him and do good. And while I often fall short of the good I should do, I will trust in His mercy and love, then try and do better.