Maria and I were walking in the cemetery this morning with Red, and we were holding hands, and I looked up and saw this very powerful symbol on a tombstone marking the grave of a husband and wife who died more than a century ago. On their tombstone, their hands are clasped in an eternal embrace.

I have learned in recent years that there are messages waiting for me, if I am open to them, and this was such a message, I was deeply moved by it, I told Maria this is how I thought of us, clasped in eternal love that transcended or bodies, went beyond our notions of time and space, a love pure and powerful that would find a way to live through eternity.

How wonderful that I should see it as Maria and I, closer than ever, were walking hand in hand. The surgery has deepened our trust and commitment to one another, she has never flinched or turned from me, not even in the hard hours.  At dinner with friends the other night, Maria said suddenly that I was the first person she had ever fully trusted, and that nearly brought me to my knees, there could be no greater or more meaningful compliment to me. These hands spoke to me of that, of our trust for one another.

This, I thought, was the message of the symbol on the tombstone, what Ezekiel and Martha were telling me, were whispering to me. Perhaps I will meet them one day. We will recognize one another.