I love stories. Reading and listening to them give me pleasure as well as the chance to reflect on their hidden meanings. Various experiences, as well as meeting and talking with different people give me the opportunity to collect and share stories that are oftentimes funny, some haunting and sad, while others tragic, but always with lessons to reflect and learn from.
I have in my collection two anecdotes that I would like to share with you.
A close friend of mine shared this story to me while the two of us were discussing some parables from the gospel of St. Matthew. Frankly, I could not shake off the feeling that I was somehow being referred to in this narrative.
The Morning Christ Wanted to Speak to Me But Didn’t Have the Chance
I did not give him the chance, neither myself for that matter. All day long I thought of the opportunity that I let go. In fact, even a day after the incident I kept thinking about it.
Why do sometimes I fail to realize the most obvious of realities? I believe that Christ is present in everyone – much more in the needy and yet I am too slow and “too sophisticated” to understand them. I am sure that if Christ would show himself to me as he is, then I would be too willing to let go of everything for him.
But what if he comes in the person of a simple young man who suddenly appeared out of nowhere, claiming that he has been robbed of his money and yet too friendly and too willing to talk?
I felt so uncomfortable while he keeps on muttering his misfortune. Why? Was I afraid he would ask me for money? I cannot also dismiss the thought that maybe it was just a ploy on his part. Somehow my heart went out to him because I know how it felt to be robbed. And yet, part of me remained suspicious and did not want to take him and his experience at face value.
May be it is the attitude of unwillingness that made me feel guilty. I could not shake the thought of him out of my mind. Somehow I felt that God came to me that particular morning, but I did not give him a chance.
Our media center is a place where lots of people come and visit for various reasons. One of the many reasons they come is to be able to talk with the Sisters who are always present in the center. Few years ago, in another city, I encountered a woman (whose name escaped my mind) who shared with me the story of her life. It is a sad story but not without lessons to learn from.
An Encounter with an Unknown Woman
Let’s just call her Diana. She was a 59 year old married woman. One afternoon, she came to the media center to look for a cassette tape. I noticed sadness in her eyes. She mentioned somewhat incoherently at first that she was looking for a cassette tape that would touch the heart of the listener.
I was a bit amused by what she said. Anyway, I gave her some choices and I even played one for her. While the song was playing, she started sharing her life, thus explaining the reason why she was looking for a cassette tape that can touch the heart of the listener.
Diana has been married for forty years. It was not a blissful marriage. Her husband in fact physically abused her sometimes, even threatening to kill her, if she thought of leaving him. Once after having been beaten, she submitted herself for medical examination. Although she did not have any intention of filing a case against her husband, she told him she went for medical examination to establish evidence of abuse just in case a need for it arises.
I simply cannot believe that she could stay living with an abusive husband for many years. I asked her why she did not leave him or sought help. “I tried,” Diana said, “but I could not get the strength to do so. I am afraid for my children and for other people who might get hurt in the process. In fact, he warned me that he will kill me if ever I leave him.”
Diana believed her faith in God would bring reason to her husband. “I believe that God’s grace will work on him,” Diana confided. “When, I do not know. I keep on praying to God like that poor widow in the gospel. I am at peace because I have done my best and whatever difficulties I am experiencing now, these I have not sought myself.”
