Lost without my dog tags

It was fall 2005 and I had, a couple of months earlier, become reignited in my love of the Catholic Church. I had also discovered the true power of the Rosary and Our Lady. So when I heard Fr. Corapi note on EWTN that "If the Rosary is your weapon, the Brown Scapular is your dog tags," I paid attention.

I watched his whole show on the Brown Scapular and was itching to get one around my neck. I Googled "Brown Scapular" and then I had an "Ah ha!" moment. I recognize those - I had seen them lumped in with prayer cards and badges at my grandfather's house years ago.

I did some reading and research (Garment of Grace was a fast, comprehensive read) on the Brown Scapular and discerned I wanted to be enrolled in the confraternity. I bought my scapular from the Sisters of Carmel and arranged to get enrolled at a local parish - fittingly, Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

I've worn my dog tags since October 2005 and I am amazed at the comfort I have with it on 24-7. It's always there, reminding me of Our Blessed Mother and my desire to be like her, and reminding me of the fact she's always looking out for me ("Wear the Scapular devoutly and perseveringly. It is My garment. To be clothed in it means you are continually thinking of Me, and I in turn, am always thinking of you and helping you to secure eternal life."). Aside from my wedding ring, it's the only thing I wear constantly.

Amazingly, I never lost the Scapular. Every once in a while I'd forget to put it back on after a shower, but it'd be right on the bathroom counter where I left it or stuck in the last shirt I had on. Until Monday, that is.

I was driving and for some reason reached around my neck to do a Scapular check, only to find it missing. "Well," I thought to myself, "must be on the bathroom counter." When I got home, I checked the bathroom counter. No Scapular.

"Well," I thought to myself, "must be mixed up with the last shirt I had on." The only problem? In a fit of unprecedented organization, I had just washed all my dirty clothes. Shirts included. And I couldn't remember which shirt I had on last.

The thought of losing that Scapular bummed me out. I loved it. We have a great history together. It's with me all the time. I know I shouldn't be attached to an object, that it's not "magic" or a talisman, and my faith is not bound to earthly things. But, still, I'm really fond of that particular Scapular. Especially since the Sisters do such a fantastic job of making them really sturdy. The thought of never finding it or finding it mangled in the wash was sad.

But since what was done was done, I had to move on.

I went downstairs and emptied out the drier, tossing the clothes in the basket. And what flew out? The Scapular - still intact and cleaner than it had been in a long, long time. It was pretty amazing. As I tossed a handful of clothes in the hamper, the Scapular flew apart from them and landed on my arm, somewhat proclaiming, "I'm back!"

What a cool experience.