So I was sitting there eating and a lady who was not dressed as staff approached the table and asked if I was the one staying in the guest house. I said yes and she told me she was going to get a cup of coffee, implying to me that she would like to walk back with me. I finished up, cleared my place and then went down a couple tables to join her.
I introduced myself and she did the same. Her name was Barbara and she was an oblate. I had no idea what that was at the time and she didn’t offer an explanation, even a little while later when I told her I was not Catholic. She was a delight to talk to and invited me to Compline, which is the evening prayer time.
We ended up talking about a lot of things. Of note—she asked what I was. I started out with, I follow Christ. To me, that is the most important identification anyone can make. I mentioned my diversity of Christian denominations; I grew up in the Assemblies of God, my brother and sister-in-law go to a Baptist church, my dad and step mom attend a Christian & Missionary Alliance church and I attend a non-denominational church. (That’s not including the four different churches my relatives in Kansas City and Liberty attend or any of my other extended family in Iowa or the rest of the country.)
After she asked, I made a point of saying that I had discovered as an adult that denominational differences were insignificant in the light of eternity and that what mattered was the belief in Christ as Lord and Savior. If the basic biblical truths are shared, what does the minutia matter? We didn’t end up discussing it, but she did mention that one thing we wouldn’t agree on would be the Eucharist. (I know there are other points we would not agree on but again we didn’t discuss them.)
We talked about work and pets and job schedules and phone plans and kids with their technology always in hand. It was a pleasant chat. I won’t share more details about our conversation because you don’t need to know.
We went to Compline. Not being Catholic I didn’t mess with the Holy Water outside or bow to the statue of Christ on the cross inside the church. And I didn’t kneel on the bench during Compline or sing the prayers to/about the Blessed Virgin. I just followed along and let God’s presence envelop me. I focused on the words of the Psalms that were read.
As we walked back we ran into Br. Maurus who is the retreat director. He and Barbara are friends and they chatted as such on our way to the guest house. He asked if I was a friend of hers here for the weekend. I told him I was only there for the day and night and tomorrow because there were no rooms available for more time. He was disappointed to hear that but I told him I thought I would be back.
I parted company with them at the front desk when Br. Maurus was looking through the directory to get a hold of another Br. that Barbara knew and had yarn for. (This other Br. makes hand knitted scarves that are available in the gift shop. It sounded like the yarn is mostly donated.)
Barbara had mentioned morning combined Vigils & Lauds at 0530 and though I didn’t tell her I wouldn’t attend, I didn’t think I would make it up in time for that. I planned on going back to room and being led by the Spirit in my study time, pray over the requests in my prayer journal and catch-up my BSF homework. And being a night owl naturally I guessed I would be up late. I was right.
Tune in tomorrow to discover what I discovered. (Most of my revelations will be shared. Not all)
I introduced myself and she did the same. Her name was Barbara and she was an oblate. I had no idea what that was at the time and she didn’t offer an explanation, even a little while later when I told her I was not Catholic. She was a delight to talk to and invited me to Compline, which is the evening prayer time.
We ended up talking about a lot of things. Of note—she asked what I was. I started out with, I follow Christ. To me, that is the most important identification anyone can make. I mentioned my diversity of Christian denominations; I grew up in the Assemblies of God, my brother and sister-in-law go to a Baptist church, my dad and step mom attend a Christian & Missionary Alliance church and I attend a non-denominational church. (That’s not including the four different churches my relatives in Kansas City and Liberty attend or any of my other extended family in Iowa or the rest of the country.)
After she asked, I made a point of saying that I had discovered as an adult that denominational differences were insignificant in the light of eternity and that what mattered was the belief in Christ as Lord and Savior. If the basic biblical truths are shared, what does the minutia matter? We didn’t end up discussing it, but she did mention that one thing we wouldn’t agree on would be the Eucharist. (I know there are other points we would not agree on but again we didn’t discuss them.)
We talked about work and pets and job schedules and phone plans and kids with their technology always in hand. It was a pleasant chat. I won’t share more details about our conversation because you don’t need to know.
We went to Compline. Not being Catholic I didn’t mess with the Holy Water outside or bow to the statue of Christ on the cross inside the church. And I didn’t kneel on the bench during Compline or sing the prayers to/about the Blessed Virgin. I just followed along and let God’s presence envelop me. I focused on the words of the Psalms that were read.
As we walked back we ran into Br. Maurus who is the retreat director. He and Barbara are friends and they chatted as such on our way to the guest house. He asked if I was a friend of hers here for the weekend. I told him I was only there for the day and night and tomorrow because there were no rooms available for more time. He was disappointed to hear that but I told him I thought I would be back.
I parted company with them at the front desk when Br. Maurus was looking through the directory to get a hold of another Br. that Barbara knew and had yarn for. (This other Br. makes hand knitted scarves that are available in the gift shop. It sounded like the yarn is mostly donated.)
Barbara had mentioned morning combined Vigils & Lauds at 0530 and though I didn’t tell her I wouldn’t attend, I didn’t think I would make it up in time for that. I planned on going back to room and being led by the Spirit in my study time, pray over the requests in my prayer journal and catch-up my BSF homework. And being a night owl naturally I guessed I would be up late. I was right.
Tune in tomorrow to discover what I discovered. (Most of my revelations will be shared. Not all)
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