On Common Ground
We're sitting in a circle, nearly 40 of us, telling stories. Eighteen priests and their wives and a few kids... One tasoni leans against her husband's shoulder. Another abouna drapes his arm around his wife's chair. It is so so right.
We start with tears--our children's--as the tasonis recall the 40 days without daddy. We switch to laughter as an abouna tells us his first impressions of the modern-day American monastery ("How do I call room service?"). Discussions then get serious: "What do you do in your church when... ?" Then more serious as the bishop joins us.
But all the talk is needed, is necessary. It's how a family is formed. All these priests and their families gathering in one place, reflecting on our shared calling.
We have now completed one year at our new church. I couldn't have imagined a better way to process it all than by spending a very special week with other local priests and their families.
First, let me say, what a rare sight! Dozens of abounas and their tasonis sitting together--next to each other! It was truly beautiful to be sitting next to my husband, like a normal couple, attending lectures together, eating three square meals a day together! And then--and this is hilarious and ironic--when a non-priest male walks in the cafeteria, all eyes turn with questions. Where's the beard? Where are the black robes? What are you doing here?
Between tasonis, there is so much unspoken common ground. We may each be completely unique individuals, but we also share so, so much. As one friend put it, "These are not normal women." We have all agreed to devote our lives--our entire lives--to the service of God. Some serve privately, at home; others more publicly, running conventions and programs. All of us linked together by our struggle to define ourselves in relation to and independent from our very prominent mini-celebrity husbands.
In that moment, sitting around, sharing stories, I couldn't help but think of Priest's Wife who told us just a few days ago that she may not be blogging much anymore. How much emotional support and spiritual relief could come through an annual escape like this? May God be with all priests' wives, pastors' wives, preachers' wives, rabbis' wives, etc. May their service be an acceptable sacrifice before the throne of the Lord.