chapel - during vacation

during the summer, most dutch people go on vacation for several weeks - and often at the same time as a lot of other people. on a nation-wide scale, getting in contact with people over the summer and getting things done can be a bit complicated. as for the community, things continue as usual, mostly. those of us not currently on vacation do our best to make sure everything goes smoothly. certain aspects of life here are quieter - we eat together less, we have fewer open hours for the drop-in centre, and fewer people living in the house. yet, other things continue in the same rhythm, like chapel services.

but since all of the schedules are rearranged (several times) during the summer, there's not a lot of certainty over whether someone prepared for the service. nor are there always that many people there, or people who have spent years learning how best to respond to the unusual...

the other evening, while helping the older nun from the community come from her apartment to chapel services, we saw people still lighting the candles. shortly after the nun sat down, she started praying (much to the surprise of those in the room). while she was praying, a familiar homeless man came in very loudly, a bit unsteady, and rather restless. after a few minutes, he started to leave, taking with him a bag that someone else had left by the door! so the owner of the bag got up quickly and took it back from him. the homeless man returned, moved around a bit and mumbled some, and was shushed by the nun. then he left a second time, making a lot of noise by the door, apparently trying to take something else! the nun suggested we sing something out of the Taize books we had, and the person in charge went to check on things by the door. the whole incident took about 10 minutes, during which the nun prayed most of the time (praying for everyone and every situation under the sun, like that people would actually like going to work). after singing another song, the nun asked whether anyone had prepared for chapel but didn't hear/notice when the person who had prepared responded with a "ja." so she continued to lead.

i shared the above story with zr Annemieke, who is on vacation now :) she said she could completely picture it. and asked whether i was praying hard, being surprised, or laughing inside. probably all three. i've lived here long enough that i'm starting to realize anything is possible. and once i got past my annoyance at the homeless guy, i was praying about the restlessness that he brought with him. and since i was trying to turn my heart toward God, how could i not help at laugh at the oddness of his creatures and what happens here?

all things said, it was definitely memorable. but i'd rather not have too many memorable chapels - i'd think i'd rather have a lot of the ordinary ones. where the liturgy is always the same. where there is a lot of silence. where i can bring those i care about before God. and my soul, amidst the rest of the distractions of life, is quieted and reminded of God's presence.