09.21.05

In the world

Posted in Uncategorized at 6:55 am

We had an interesting conversation with our grammar teacher this morning before class. The fact that I am a pastor is difficult for some Italians to grasp. A religious worker here is either a priest or a nun or possibly a monk, but certainly not sitting across the table for his or her spouse like I do! Somehow we got on the subject of cloistered nuns.

She told us a story from her childhood. Her family lived in a city where there was a convent of cloistered nuns. These nuns never left the convent, never received visitors, and lived inside a completely-hidden compound. Her grandmother would often donate extra eggs or old shoes to the nuns living inside. Our teacher was terrified by this place. The entryway had drawers that opened to the outside. Her grandma would put her donation inside and walk away. No one came to receive the gift; no thank yous were received. She remembered the darkness inside the convent and how the mysteriousness of it all scared her.

She then quickly added an interesting point: she wondered out loud how it is possible for a religious person to stay in one place, simply praying all day long. She admired the commitment that these women make, even today, but thought their time might be better spent praying a little less and helping the needy a lot more. She said that a person can give their life to God and still interact with people.

Our teacher would be the first to say that she doesn’t know much about “religion.” But her simple insight into how a normal person perceives the “religious” renewed my commitment to be salt and light in the world. I share her respect for men and women who can make a vow to live in seclusion for the rest of their lives. But I also share her opinion that the world needs people who don’t only pray, but also work.

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