Nun of Your Business
While I got to spend time with many friends and family members over Christmas break, I did not get a chance to see one particular friend from high school. We met freshmen year and have remained close in spite of the distance our various moves have put between us. Sometimes when I talk about this individual to other high school acquaintances, they mention that she once considered becoming a nun. They used to make fun of her for that fact. Sometimes, it seems like they are still laughing at the memory of it.
Because of their response, I never tell them that I, too, once contemplated the religious life.
Celibacy and poverty aren't popular at an age when much of your social standing is determined by your relationship status and perceived wealth. It's understandable that I would have kept my ideas to myself when I was a fragile teenager, but it's a shame for me to continue to pretend they never existed. In truth, I believe the world could use more people acting like nuns do.
I wasn't interested in the religious life because I was exceptionally strong in my faith. Like most teenagers, I wrestled with many questions about my beliefs. Every day, however, I witnessed women making a difference in the community as they lived out their own callings. My school was sponsored by one religious congregation. I was part of an environmental club run by a different group. I had friends who volunteered at an inner-city art program run by a third community. Nuns were involved in hospitals, shelters, and soup kitchens. They advocated for peace and environmental stewardship. I worked with enough nuns closely enough to see how tough, dedicated, generous, and joyful they could be.
My husband likes to say that nuns are the best example of living out your faith. While other individuals sometimes get bogged down in the nuances or politics of religion, sisters are out there acting as Jesus taught and making the world a better place for it. Even if you don't believe in Christianity, it's hard to argue that the world couldn't use less selfishness and materialism.
We may not all be called to give up quite so much as nuns do, but we could all stand to focus less on ourselves and more on others. I think the sisters' emphasis on kindness, service, and simplicity should be celebrated rather than ridiculed.
Because of their response, I never tell them that I, too, once contemplated the religious life.
Celibacy and poverty aren't popular at an age when much of your social standing is determined by your relationship status and perceived wealth. It's understandable that I would have kept my ideas to myself when I was a fragile teenager, but it's a shame for me to continue to pretend they never existed. In truth, I believe the world could use more people acting like nuns do.
I wasn't interested in the religious life because I was exceptionally strong in my faith. Like most teenagers, I wrestled with many questions about my beliefs. Every day, however, I witnessed women making a difference in the community as they lived out their own callings. My school was sponsored by one religious congregation. I was part of an environmental club run by a different group. I had friends who volunteered at an inner-city art program run by a third community. Nuns were involved in hospitals, shelters, and soup kitchens. They advocated for peace and environmental stewardship. I worked with enough nuns closely enough to see how tough, dedicated, generous, and joyful they could be.
My husband likes to say that nuns are the best example of living out your faith. While other individuals sometimes get bogged down in the nuances or politics of religion, sisters are out there acting as Jesus taught and making the world a better place for it. Even if you don't believe in Christianity, it's hard to argue that the world couldn't use less selfishness and materialism.
We may not all be called to give up quite so much as nuns do, but we could all stand to focus less on ourselves and more on others. I think the sisters' emphasis on kindness, service, and simplicity should be celebrated rather than ridiculed.
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