This morning, I greeted a woman at Cabrini, whom I have known by face for many years. I, like many others, have dismissed her as having much noteworthy to offer. In a parish--a faith community--with so many social justice activists, this woman has been overlooked. I am not proud of that fact.
This week, I looked on the Cabrini website. I was taken for a moment to see a beautiful picture of the front of our church. Who took the picture? You guessed it. The woman overlooked by many. I was given the opportunity to express how much I enjoyed the picture.
I was touched. In many ways, I was moved. She was clear. She knew that people did not like her, per se. She explained that she had been diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome. Her feelings--her experience of other people--were clarified. Awkwardness in communication.
She expressed frustration. "At least with you, they can see your disability." She asked me about it. I explained the umbilical cord wrapped around my neck five times, and the resultant cerebral palsy. Yet, I conveyed genuine understanding of her frustration. I explained my epilepsy to her. We talked.
She spoke of determination to continue working--the desire of supervisors that she stop working.
I encouraged her to continue taking pictures.
I learned a lot this morning. I have been dismissive of her prayers for the Minnesota Vikings football team, at various points. I did not view this woman to be someone, who was driven by social justice issues per se. Fleetingly, I have asked myself, "what draws this woman to Cabrini."
This morning, the priest, known for being outspoken on controversial issues offered a clue. He juxtaposed recent objections to his outspokenness with the deaths--the wakes, and burials--of an 11-year-old girl, and an adult. He needed to leave early to attend to the services for those individuals. He said the message of this week's events to him was that we needed to be more about love.
That may sound trite. Not new, or earth-shaking. Yet, in those moments this morning, it was clear. His outspokenness is not pursued for its own sake. His outspokenness was--is--deeply felt.
He invited us to pray for a more loving archdioceses.
