How I Became a Nun

I am now in Indianapolis, IN... staying at the Benedict Inn... aka monastary.

I spent today flying about. I thought I was going to miss my flight from Minneapolis to Indy, but then I felt a sense of peace about it all. Having read "An Unhurried Life" in prayer seminar, I realized that missing the flight would be completely out of my control. I could either be stressed, frustrated, anxious and rude... and be late, or calm, collected and polite... and be late. Turns out that going with the latter simply makes the entire experience more enjoyable. I felt relaxed enough to notice to elderly woman and man holding hands as they waited for their turn to get up. When they did, they went slowly, grabbing their luggage carefully. The husband did so, since his wife was too short. She carried multiple bags, and part of me wanted to offer to help, yet she had an expression of competence about her that I feared a polite gesture would be unwelcomed. Instead, I smiled. I also was able to observe a very tall, strong man watching the couple, and I noticed he too was smiling. Together, we shared in a moment that would have gone unnoticed.

I made it to my flight with minutes to spare, which I mean "spare"- not in the exaggerated, "only" sense of the word, but that I had more minutes that could have been spent walking slower, saying a more complete good-bye to Christina, the girl I met on the plane, or perhaps being more thankful to our flight attendants. This time, while in the sky, I looked down at the world beneath me, the little specks moving about (cars) and the slightly larger squares at a stand still. I felt the vastness of the world- and I wasn't even looking at an entire state! It hit me how powerful my God is, and I was amazed as I recalled how He loves each of those specs individually. It felt completely paradoxical.

I landed in Indy safetly, met my CMF group, and we were off. We drove out of the city into less crowded areas, and there we found our Inn. I quickly learned that it was were a group of 60 nuns lived, and some monks. At first, I expected black and white all over the place. Turns out this place is more progressive - nuns wear pants, and even say shit. I talked to Sister Kathy-Ann in depth, and enjoyed her story of becoming a nun (and first hand experience of a nun who says "shit").

The evening has been restful, which is why I am taking time to write. I probably won't again until the night before I fly for Kenya.

As always, God bless :)