Happy Epiphany Week! I love that we are still relfecting on and unpacking the many lessons the Magi, in their search for/ finding of Jesus, have to offer us this week. Well, I have been trying to follow their example of seeking out Jesus in the events of my life this past month.
I had a wonderful trip home and was able to spend a lot of quality time with my family and catch up with many friends. I was also able to share a little with them about my life here in formation with the Sisters and some of the adventures of living in community, although sometimes they are difficult to comprehend. Many events that would happen in normal daily life are more enjoyable, more novel and just more hilarious in the convent.
Take for example, the fire alarm going off at 3 a.m. Tuesday morning. After grabbing our coats, glasses, shoes etc. and running down the stairs, we realized we weren't sure where the meeting spot is for fire alarms. We went out the back door, got locked out, then let back in and joined the rest of the group complete with pajamas, bathrobes, slippers and veils, waiting for the alarm to stop. Then we were greeted by the police and firemen (in full gear) with truck lights flashing trying to figure out the cause. Pretty soon we were recruited by Sister and given a task: buckets, mops, towels ... each returned with her item and we began to clean up the inside "rain" falling from the ceiling in one of the rooms. One of the sprinkler pipes had burst and was leaking, which set off the alarm. Even in this inopportune situation we were able to work together and enjoy each other and I was reminded again of why I love living in community.
I also realized how hard it is to find quiet and time to pray living in the world. In the two weeks on break it was so difficult for me to balance prayer and truly be present to the people around me. As Sister reminded us yesterday in class, you can't live the life of prayer in the same way, when you aren't living in community. I definitely experienced that and longed for it, to refocus and recenter myself on Jesus. One of the most beautiful moments of my vacation was being able to visit the little Adoration Chapel at my parish. It is such a grace to be able to spend some time in front of our Lord and really feel at home.
Every time I read about our founders, St. John Bosco and St. Mary Mazzarello, I am amazed by their presence of God and awareness of Him in every aspect of their day. In their relations with others, always raising their conversations to a higher level and redirecting the minds of their companions to Him, in offering their work and really seeing it as a opportunity to give glory to God, in being truly present and faithful to the times set aside for prayer making it a priority to develop and deepen their spiritual life. They give us an example of really living in union with God and seeking him diligently, as the Wise Men did 2,000 years ago. I pray that as this Christmas season draws to a close, we are able to continue trying to find Jesus in the events, conversations and work of each day.
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