You Showed the Way

It is Spring on Long Island in 1961 and we are young.

The road winds through tall oaks and shadows move over our bus. We are headed to a retreat house that perches above the Long Island Sound. It comes into view, a huge grey stone building with many windows reflecting the afternoon sun. We see white turrets hanging from the corners of the building and are impressed. All smiles and giggles, we take our suitcases down and head for the tall wooden front door. We are assigned a room on the top floor and lugging our stuff, we climb. I fell in love with the room the minute we opened the door. Sloping ceilings, bright black square key holder and beyond, the still water of the Sound.

We are four high school friends. Patti and I are besties, Carole and Maureen are too, and the four of us find delight in almost everything we do. To be together for a weekend seems almost too much. We can read each others minds and a raised eyebrow will send us into fits of laughter.

A soft knock comes right after we settle into our spots. A black robed nun comes in with a companion. The girl is thin, has white hair and thick glasses. We are asked if we have room for her as she has come alone. I can't believe it. Our perfect little group has been invaded. I can't recall who said: "Yes, that would be fine", but I guarantee it wasn't me. "How could this happen," I asked myself sullenly.

The rest of the retreat is a blur to me but this moment, this moment, I hold in my heart. The stranger, I wish I could recall her name, was walking alone along the beach towards the jetty .To understand what came next I must self describe. I know this auburn haired, slender girl who is me. She is shy, introverted, uncomfortable socially in most instances and was taught to never speak until spoken to.And yet, in that moment, she walks over to the new girl and engages. We chatted, laughed a bit. Does she remember?

I think of this girl coming alone on retreat. How did she feel? What drew her? I can still see her solemn face at the door. I know this: that was the first time the Spirit made a request. It is so clear to me.

Now I offer this: "Thank you, Spirit, for being there that day. For the urgings then and since, that have borne fruit. Today, I pray for those two girls, both shy strangers, who You showed the way to be friends."