In the presence of grace

When I was in London recently, I overheard a couple arguing late at night. The woman wept and repeated over and over again, in a quiet but defiant voice, "I am not a queen. I am not a queen. I am not a queen. I am not a queen."

When I was a child, I listened to the Litany of the Blessed Virgin and wished I was Catholic. I knew I would never be a queen, but saw no reason why I shouldn't be graced by the presence of one. To this day I linger in front of her statues.

(photos by wakalani and selva @ flickr)