The past week has been typical January weather, but atypical for February! It's already February, the bitterness of winter has been lame, which is okay with me. The little duckling is fully grown and really hard to pick this quacker out from the rest (usually by less fat on its body). I just finished my textbook study for the electrician apprenticeship which was a good feeling to have that checked off my list of items that I hoped to accomplish this year.
I recently finished a novel, Sooley, by John Grisham about an aspiring basketball player from South Sudan who's family experienced guerilla warfare. In a bleak description about life in an refugee camp, Grisham writes, "the monotony of life in the camp was taking a toll. There was so little to do to pass the time...the weekly Mass gave them a hint of normalcy." Upon reading this excerpt, I recalled my initial week in Morgantown, where my life was in disarray and attending a Catholic Mass became a mental escape. Week after the week, the limited hour for the liturgy did and still provides some semblance of "normalcy." The experience of worship transcends me from this prison camp. I am fortunate to participating in the celebration of the Mass. Unlike a refugee camp, I have incredible opportunities to excel, stay busy, and focus on making a meaningful impact in my situation.
I also could not help but think of the refugee camps that I had visited in Rwanda with lack of running water, plumbing, scarcity of food, and shelter of mud huts. While in Rwanda, I attended several Masses. Nearly all the people participating rejoiced in unity in their worship through applause and cheers, which was absolutely astounding to experience. These people with very little material items were vastly rich in spirit! It's apparent that Grisham has not observed a Mass celebrated in an African refugee camp, because I am certain the impact of the celebration would have elaborated his mention of this "normalcy" as a transforming event worth noting.
Over the past month, our priest has been in India visiting his family, so the sense of normalcy has been a bit bleak. He returns this Sunday which will help me with a very brief mental escape 🙂 I hope you have a wonderful and healthy week filled with little miracles! Thank you for taking the time to read through my weekly rant.