The Flying Colours was sailing back to Annapolis, MD from the US Virgin Islands when it hit some turbulent weather. The vessel along with the four sailors on board have been lost at sea since May 7th.
One of those sailors is Tim's cousin, Christine Grinavic.
It's been three weeks since the Coast Guard last picked up a faint distress signal from the sailboat. But Tim's family has not given up hope. Very devout Irish Catholics that they are they have asked for our prayers at their most desparate time of need.
And now I extend that to you.
Recently, I have strayed away from the church and I am not as religious as I once was, but I ask you to read this story below and keep Christine and the crew of The Flying Colours in your thoughts.
The Yellow Rose
Written by: Ed McDonough (Christine's Uncle)
"It's Mother's Day. While it should be a day to honor my mother, I went to her looking for a favor. As you may know, she resides peacefully now in a Norwood Massachusetts cemetery. My mother Margaret was a devoted Roman Catholic woman. Blind and Bedridden she said countless prayers and novenas each day. Many say she is a saint.
What a more perfect person to ask a favor!
You see my niece Christine, Her granddaughter, is lost at sea. She and three other capable crew members, of the sailing vessel Flying Colours, went missing nearly a week ago. They were caught in a Surprise subtropical storm, named Andrea, off the coast of the Carolinas. The Coast Guard has been phenomenal. Their crews braved 40 foot plus seas and scientifically searched an area larger than the size of the state of Texas. Family members and friends of all the crew members networked everywhere drumming up support. Efforts were made to harness the power of the media and contact governmental officials.
It has been said perhaps this is one of the few times both sides of the legislative aisle have agreed on something, as they have been great.
Despite the diligent efforts of everyone, thus far the search has been to no avail. Yesterday, the formal search wound down, to be reactivated immediately upon any hopeful sign. Human effort and science have yet to prevail but we always can have faith.
On my way to the cemetery I stopped off to get a rose.
It was one of my mother's favorite flowers. You see, she was devoted to Saint Theresa, the Little Flower. Catholics don't pray to saints they pray through them. Much like asking a trusted friend for help. It has been Said those who petition our Lord through St. Teresa are mysteriously given a rose as a sign their prayer request has been fulfilled. So I was off to find a rose. Surely Mom's prayers for Christine's safe return are joining our own. I was disappointed when I couldn't find a red rose. Later, I smiled when I realized the one I purchased, and the only ones available, were yellow. That color is a symbol of hope that loved ones will be returned. It also represents sunshine.
So often people feel that we are in control and via intellect will always make the best choice. More often when we "let go and let God" the right choice is made for us. This yellow flower couldn't be a better selection as Christine's positive energy always lights up every room she enters. Upon kneeling upon the grave I noticed a sparkle of metal. A circular metal button emblazoned with the purple letters reading "HOPE" was placed upon the grave. The fabulous children, faculty and staff at the Elm Street school, where my sister and Christine's mother is Principal, distributed them as a means of buoying everyone's spirits. As I laid the rose next to it a feeling of comfort washed over me. Countless family, friends and strangers have come together in efforts and prayer to help bring Christine home. Surely their collective requests will not be ignored. As I left and turned the corner of the narrow cemetery lanes a grave caught my eye. It had a relief sculpture of a saint. I paused a moment to admire it. It was St. Anthony who is the patron saint of lost things. In my head I could hear my mothers voice to whom I'd complain that I couldn't find something. "Did you ask St. Anthony?" to which I usually replied "not yet". She'd join me in a quick prayer and moments later, what was lost was now found.
The last time my niece saw her own mother was at our own mother -Margaret's funeral. She died on the Marion feast day of Our Lady of Guadeloupe, on December 12th. Before Christine went back to sea she promised her mother she would be back on Mother's Day. Coincidentally, this too, is a Marion feast day of Our Lady of Fatima.
So despite the clouds of doubt, we all hope for a miracle.
Christine is a person who just didn't dream dreams . She lives them every day. We look forward the safe return of her and her crewmates.
So no matter what your faith, please pray in your own way, for the entire crew's safe return".
What a more perfect person to ask a favor!
You see my niece Christine, Her granddaughter, is lost at sea. She and three other capable crew members, of the sailing vessel Flying Colours, went missing nearly a week ago. They were caught in a Surprise subtropical storm, named Andrea, off the coast of the Carolinas. The Coast Guard has been phenomenal. Their crews braved 40 foot plus seas and scientifically searched an area larger than the size of the state of Texas. Family members and friends of all the crew members networked everywhere drumming up support. Efforts were made to harness the power of the media and contact governmental officials.
It has been said perhaps this is one of the few times both sides of the legislative aisle have agreed on something, as they have been great.
Despite the diligent efforts of everyone, thus far the search has been to no avail. Yesterday, the formal search wound down, to be reactivated immediately upon any hopeful sign. Human effort and science have yet to prevail but we always can have faith.
On my way to the cemetery I stopped off to get a rose.
It was one of my mother's favorite flowers. You see, she was devoted to Saint Theresa, the Little Flower. Catholics don't pray to saints they pray through them. Much like asking a trusted friend for help. It has been Said those who petition our Lord through St. Teresa are mysteriously given a rose as a sign their prayer request has been fulfilled. So I was off to find a rose. Surely Mom's prayers for Christine's safe return are joining our own. I was disappointed when I couldn't find a red rose. Later, I smiled when I realized the one I purchased, and the only ones available, were yellow. That color is a symbol of hope that loved ones will be returned. It also represents sunshine.
So often people feel that we are in control and via intellect will always make the best choice. More often when we "let go and let God" the right choice is made for us. This yellow flower couldn't be a better selection as Christine's positive energy always lights up every room she enters. Upon kneeling upon the grave I noticed a sparkle of metal. A circular metal button emblazoned with the purple letters reading "HOPE" was placed upon the grave. The fabulous children, faculty and staff at the Elm Street school, where my sister and Christine's mother is Principal, distributed them as a means of buoying everyone's spirits. As I laid the rose next to it a feeling of comfort washed over me. Countless family, friends and strangers have come together in efforts and prayer to help bring Christine home. Surely their collective requests will not be ignored. As I left and turned the corner of the narrow cemetery lanes a grave caught my eye. It had a relief sculpture of a saint. I paused a moment to admire it. It was St. Anthony who is the patron saint of lost things. In my head I could hear my mothers voice to whom I'd complain that I couldn't find something. "Did you ask St. Anthony?" to which I usually replied "not yet". She'd join me in a quick prayer and moments later, what was lost was now found.
The last time my niece saw her own mother was at our own mother -Margaret's funeral. She died on the Marion feast day of Our Lady of Guadeloupe, on December 12th. Before Christine went back to sea she promised her mother she would be back on Mother's Day. Coincidentally, this too, is a Marion feast day of Our Lady of Fatima.
So despite the clouds of doubt, we all hope for a miracle.
Christine is a person who just didn't dream dreams . She lives them every day. We look forward the safe return of her and her crewmates.
So no matter what your faith, please pray in your own way, for the entire crew's safe return".
5 comments:
That is awful. Give our good thoughts to Tim. I hope that they find the crew soon.
I hate stale Junior Mints!
sorry...wrong post to comment on...anyhow, this is very sad... i hope they are found..(.and I still hate stale JMs)
I am thinking of them! Let us know what happens since this doesn't exactly hit the news here.
And totally off topic and inappropriate for this post - tag you're it...meme time.
That's so sad - I'll be thinking about them and hoping they are safe.
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