110 | VISION 2019 | VocationNetwork.org
be, doing what I need to do. And
I also know from the writings and
examples of others who have de-
scribed this same phenomenon that
sometimes the path requires paying
the same price as the people among
whom we serve. So it was with some
relief that I parked safely and found
myself at a table with friendly faces.
During dinner the conversation
turned, as it always does, to curious questions about nuns. I used to
dread the obvious ones (“How can
you possibly live without sex!” and
“How can you stand just living with
women all the time?”). But as I have
grown older the questions addressed
to me have become more thoughtful.
This time the 50-something African
American woman sitting next to me
wanted to know, “What is it with
you nuns? You all seem to have this
incredible energy and belief that any
good thing is possible.”
I think I told her that it was
because we are less likely to get
discouraged by the kinds of deeply
painful and personal betrayals that
can only be caused by a spouse or
child, the kind that cause people to
lose their sense of direction in life
and to doubt that the future is go-
ing to bring any healing. I say “less
likely” because I know of nuns who
have suffered at the hands of church
authorities or been hurt by members
of their own communities. And there
are members of religious congrega-
tions who struggle with fears and
depressions often rooted in experi-
ences they had as children.
A sign of hope
As I reflected later, I didn’t think my
answer told the whole story. While
not all nuns are incredibly positive
people, the ones in the worst material circumstances or doing the most
difficult work with the least attrac-
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“We all call you
‘Miss Nun.’ That’s
why you can be out
here walking through
the alleys and no one
will lay a hand on you.”
“
COURTES Y OF THE SIS TERS OF CHARI T Y OF NAZARE TH
