How to Fit-in In Community...Awkwardly
I’ve lived in four communities of sisters during my discernment with the Sinsinawa Dominicans: my local community at the Mound, as a Candidate in Atlanta, as a Novice in St. Louis, and now as a second year Novice in Denver. As I begin this third year in community, I’m reminded how creating community is a somewhat awkward process—especially at first. Learning about each sister—her personality, how she adds to the “mix” of the community and how I can best relate to her—is often a trial-and-error process requiring patience and intention. Developing new relationships is a time of great excitement, requiring both openness and vigilance. Today it strikes me how integral community-building is to being human, not just a woman religious. Right now I’m visiting my cousin in California during the birth of her second child—yesterday she and her husband had a beautiful, healthy baby boy. I spent the day with their 3-year-old daughter, Gabrie...