I am a Hermit, a Nun, a Priest
In those few and brief (but shining) moments of our faith journey, when our eyes are truly open to what IS instead of what we would like it to be, we find ourselves up against a wall of paradox — of many paradoxes.
God is one, but he is three. Jesus is divine, but he is also human. Mary is a virgin, and a mother. And so on.
Viewed with the eye of our earthly bodies, we become confused — maybe even frightened — by these paradoxes.
Viewed with the eye of a mystic, we are filled with Wonder.
I have given myself over to 50 years of “Who do I want to be when I grow up?” I have given up. I have given up on the hope that one day I will find that one way, that one path, that one way of being.
I have determined that I, too (yes, like God), am a paradox. I am a paradox, filled with paradoxes, inside an even bigger paradox.
The fact that I am a paradox does not weaken me; it makes me stronger. I am not the wishy-washiness of a bit of this and a bit of that; I am All of this and All of that.
I am a hermit, a nun and a priest; I am three in one.
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The Sisters of St. Gregory
Genius! And do you know how absolutely I needed to hear this? We walk parallel rails on this track (wanna hold hands? It might help us keep our balance!), and it is with relief that I read your words and know that at least one other person “out there” understands the struggle, the frustration, the despair, and the willingness to embrace the messiness of it.
Love you!
Oh my yes!! Yes I DO want to hold hands! (you sounded so Anne Lamottish there, carefree and fun and full of God!)
I wish you were closer. I wish you could be here and be our new priest at my parish. I know you are already my sister, I’m so glad we can journey together.
I love you!!
You forgot to add “fabulous” – because you’re that too!