The parking lot is full of cars
for the afternoon Spanish Mass. Zac and I make our way towards my office on the
other side of the campus where we parked when we got there at 8:30 that morning.
It’s been a long and fulfilling day. We’re
both hungry and ready for a lunch break. We started with morning Mass with the whole
family, today Zac served as Cross bearer. After Mass he joins Mr. David Smith’s
5th grade class and his older sister Catie who is a co- catechist. He serves as their aide. This year Mr. Smith
is experimenting with a new product that my team and I are considering using
in our curriculum, so there is an unexpected fun aspect to the lesson plans
that he has not experienced before. He loves going to this class.
My daughter Catie has taken a
more active lead role this year. The fact that she is sharing herself with this
class makes me smile. Mr. Smith has
mentored her for a few years now. She has been helping in catechism classes
since she was in 4th grade. This is who she is: someone who gently makes
her way through our community, leaving deep prints in the hearts of many young kids
and adults she has assisted. The deepest of which, I am sure, is the imprint
she has made (and continues to make) on her little brother.
Finally, noon comes and Zac goes
to his next class; his own 6th grade Faith Formation group. His
teacher is a young, new catechist. Her
name is Ms. Rachel. He seems to really
enjoy that class and this is usually the topic our conversation each Sunday as
he and I slowly trek back to our car.
Usually our conversation goes something like:
Me: How was
class today?
Him: hmmmm…Good.
Me: What did you
talk about?
Him: Silence…..More
Silence……
Him(finally): ….
about a camel and the eye of a needle, but I have a question……
He always has questions. We talk about the spiritual meaning behind
the literal messages he heard. This is
the moment in my day when I can put my “mommy hat” back on. It’s been a
constant day of moving from one issue to the next for me, answering various
administrative needs, being present to catechists, to families in need. I can
be mom to my son now…this interchange brings me peace. I allow the peaceful silence to be part of
the discussion. He needs time to form his thoughts. He is processing deep
insights. Meanwhile, I am putting aside the problems I could not resolve today.
I realize I can handle them tomorrow. I try not thinking of the things I need
to do when we get home. Right at that moment I am just walking through a
parking lot with my son and being present to his questioning heart. This is what our faith is about…searching
for answers. Our search will always yield more questions. God is usually found in the silence. Our heart
desires silence. Can we find answers in a silent walk through a parking lot? We try.
And we walk. I resist giving him quick answers or helping him form his
questions. He struggles to share his concepts,
but when he finally does, I admire his ability to make certain connections and
ask more questions.
These Sunday experiences form our
own mother-son faith stories. I am so thankful for these parking lot
conversations and how they are such a meaningful transition in my day.
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