Monastery of the Visitation in Snellville, GA
(photo Arch. of Atl)
Two nuns and a writer walk into the local lab for some bloodwork…The comedy of errors that led me to today’s “chat with nuns” was pretty frustrating, but proof that God always has a little plan in store.
As usual, I was running late, but the good news was that my kid DID make the bus and I could proceed without unnecessary additional time in the car-rider line to drop him off. I was driving my mother’s car because mine was on day three of being in the shop. Somehow, I managed to go to the wrong lab-twice! And I still had to have blood drawn, which isn’t all that fun. However, it did land me in a waiting room chair between two nuns and that was an experience in itself. Sitting there caused me to reflect on my morning and I was caught up in the thought that I had not done much of anything one might consider holy or devout. I hadn’t even taken time to properly prepare myself which led to the crazy nature of my route to the phlebotomist.
Oddly, in my zig-zag around town to get to the first wrong lab, I had passed the actual home of these particular nuns and took note that there were several cars parked there for morning Mass. As I passed, I thought to myself that I should take some time to attend at Mary Field sometime…
Sometimes…God stops you in your tracks and slows you down. As I listened to each of my two waiting room companions, I was reminded that we all need to take time to listen. Sister JM smiled and told me about how she used to make the bread that became the Host. It was a few years since she had been able to do so, but she had fond memories of each step of the process. She talked of the “dampening” process and how the cutting had to be done at just the right time or you ended up with crumbs. Sister C chimed in with a loving recollection of how the whole process was so spiritual. Something as simple as making bread that would become the center of our Mass was such a satisfying experience that, years later, each would recall the events with deep reverence.
Using the gifts that God has blessed me with, I urged each on with a small question or request for clarity. These questions led Sister C to tell me of her love of music and, as she realized my comprehension, she began to question me. So, I told her about my oldest teenaged son who loves to compose music and his understanding that his gifts are something to be thankful for. She promised to pray for him and the guidance that would bear fruit from his efforts. Sister JM recalled her father who had favored the Gregorian sounds. She found joy in the fact that, although singing had not been a gift I had been granted, that my youngest son sang with a beautiful voice. She acknowledged my own father’s influence on the musical abilities of my sons because he sang Barbershop Style and that made her smile a smile of the memory of her father’s voice. Each of the nuns promised to pray for my family and wished me well. I promised to do the same.
Each of these beautiful women, their hands showing their age, but their eyes bright with the enthusiasm of a spiritual life, gave me a gift today. They stopped me in my tracks and returned my pace to normal again. They gave me something to think about when I feel I am too rushed to give thanks and praise to Our Lord. These women were on an errand of mercy today and they were not really aware of it. Or, perhaps they were well aware of their ministry. The next time I see them it will go something like this…Two nuns and a writer walk into Mass…
FreelanceBeth 