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Dec
1
I’ve missed the internet! I didn’t mean to stay gone so long, in fact I fully intended to keep blogging while visiting my in laws last week. But turkey, and pie, and sleeping got in the way. I love holidays.
It was a nice break. I don’t do the Black Friday mania, so it was a peaceful weekend with not much running around. A couple things happened on this visit home that kind of defined, or redefined, the holiday for me.
Several years ago I read a newspaper article while visiting my in laws, about a group of Carmelite nuns that live in their town. I’m not an expert, but from what my mother in law told me, these nuns never leave their home except for dire health needs or with special permission from the Bishop. The group that lives close to my in laws grows their own food and makes granola and other things to sell.
I never forgot that article, so I told my mother in law and husband that I wanted to visit the monastery and buy some granola. My mother in law is always willing to do things like that, so off we went. They live in a small, old farmhouse, and I read that the farmhouse is full of mold. They are trying to raise money to build a new home, but it’s taking time. There are 8 nuns living there now, with 2 more expected soon. That’s 10 women in a tiny house, part of which has been made into their chapel.
I don’t think any of us realized that we wouldn’t be able to see the nun that helped us. They not only can’t leave, they have to stay hidden. She had a special window set up, and she raised and lowered a shutter to pass us the granola and take our money, so at all times one side of the shutter was lowered. She apparently could see us, because only my mother in law spoke but the nun passed us a sample of the granola and sent 4 spoons.
I’m trying to learn more about these women. I know they spend much of their time in prayer. At a time in my life when I’m trying to figure out what I want to do, what I want to be, I am in awe of these nuns. They have given their lives to their calling, to a greater good. I can’t commit to lunch on Thursday, much less a lifetime of giving.
The other thing that affected me happened on Saturday. Even though it was a rainy, cold day, I got out to run a couple errands. I had to get some gas, so I stopped at Quik Trip first and filled up. Then I had a couple places to go. It was cold, windy and drizzling, so I was not happy to be out.
On my way back to my in laws house, I drove past the same Quik Trip that I had gotten gas at about 2 hour earlier. When I was getting gas I had noticed an older woman, wearing many layers of clothes and carrying a large bag going into Quik Trip. She didn’t buy anything, just used the restroom. My first thought was that she might be homeless, but I hoped I was wrong.
When I passed that same Quik Trip on my way home 2 hours later, I saw her again. That time she was across the street from the QT, sitting on a cement block in a parking lot. I was sure then that she was homeless, sitting there in the rain. I wanted to help her, to do something, even if just buy her some coffee. But I had nothing. I had only brought enough cash to get my gas and the few things I knew I’d be buying. I didn’t have my debit card to go get cash or anything. I was 6 blocks from my in laws house so I hurried there, grabbed some cash and my husband and we headed back to find her.
From the time I saw her to the time we got back, maybe 4 minutes had passed. We drove through the QT parking lot, I went in to see if she was there, and we drove around several blocks looking for her. But she was gone.
I couldn’t stop thinking about her all day, and in fact I still can’t. Here I was, nice and warm, after having celebrated Thanksgiving with my loved ones. She was out in the cold and rain.
I’ve only told a couple of people about that, and we didn’t tell my in laws what we’d been doing. One person I mentioned it to said, there are places for people like that, she could’ve been dry and warm. That doesn’t sit well with me. Sure there are places, but is that where I’d want to be? And maybe there wasn’t anyplace for her to be at that time. I just don’t know.
All I know is that she put my Thanksgiving into perspective. I’m always thankful for my family, and friends. But I need to dig deep, and think about everything I have to be thankful. A warm home, socks without holes, a coat when I need it. I make a point to say thank you for the big gifts I’ve been given, mainly my 2 boys and my husband. But there is so much more that I need to be thankful for.
Maybe this post is too late to affect your Thanksgiving. But it’s not too late to affect all of us and how we live. I’ve set a goal for myself, and I’m setting it just for this month, to get myself started. But I want to come up with something I am thankful for every day. Not my kids or husband, but something that maybe I never thought of before. This is my way of digging deep, in this holiday month that’s become consumed with comercialism and consumerism.
Want to join me? Leave a comment telling me something you’re thankful for that maybe you never thought of before. Keep it going every day, and I’ll try to post my “blessings list” too.
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5 Responses to “Back to reality”
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Mikki on December 1st, 2008 10:10 pm
What a great post! I often wonder about situations like yours because it’s happened to me. Wanting to help someone but then not being able to.
I wonder if God allows these moments to happen as a ’snap’. What I means is that it’s something that gets our attention. Get’s us thinking, refocusing, and most of all praying.
Just a thought.
I’m thankful for my God and His precious gift of salvation.
mary on December 2nd, 2008 11:41 am
I loved every word of this post. What a great read!
Greta on December 2nd, 2008 5:12 pm
That’s wonderful. You know, some people wouldn’t have even noticed her! Maybe she was waiting for a ride, an independent older lady!!
Definitely feels good to help someone like that and sorry you weren’t able to. Thanks for posting!
The Carmelite nun thing is disturbing to me. I guess I don’t get why they get no outside contact. Being a heathen myself. Hee.
Sheri on December 2nd, 2008 6:21 pm
Greta, I hope she was waiting for a ride, but I doubt it, since she was in the same spot for over 2 hours. But I hope she was and I hope she got a ride to someplace warm.
I think these are “wake up call” moments. And I know I needed one, so I’m grateful for it.
Michelle on December 3rd, 2008 6:07 pm
What a great post you post on your blog.