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Inspiration in D.C.

May 15, 2009

-by Megan

I just returned from a whirlwind trip to Washington, D.C.  for my godson’s baptism.  Tiernan is my sister’s firstborn, and my husband and I are so honored to be his godparents.  The ceremony on Friday afternoon was beautiful.

While in the Nation’s Capitol, I was able to visit a good many people from my past, while discovering a wellspring of joy and hope for the future.

My hosts were old family friends.  I have known them since I was 9 years old.  I grew up with their children.  Our families were part of the same spiritual community for most of my adolescent years.  The struggles and craziness of that time will always bind us together.  Now the parents, with their children all living in California, work hard to make a difference for some of the poorest in the D.C. area.  The Dad is a Latin teacher for an elementary school.  His classroom stories had us rolling, and I was wistfully thinking how wonderful he would be with my own kids.  He really has a gift for connecting with youth.  His wife works for Catholic Charities.  She has a few stories too,  as I’m sure you can imagine.  She works with the adults.  The ones who are barely scraping by and have almost lost all hope.  She sees the beauty within and tries to make a connection.  They are both planting seeds in the wake of their work.

I was able to spend most of Friday afternoon and evening with my friend Jenn.  Her family was also part of that same community, and as teenagers we would often commiserate about the stifling rules.  She is married, with four children and one on the way.  It was wonderful to talk and talk and talk about our similar struggles and views on parenting.  We haven’t seen each other in at least three years but you wouldn’t know it.  We slipped back into easy conversation as if we had been chatting everyday. While at her home, we had a quick dinner and said a rosary with a few other families.  I was very impressed with the charism of their home and friendships.  The children were rambunctious and sweet.  The parents were joyful and prayerful.  Here was a little slice of light in a darkening world.  I left that evening with a sense of peace and hope.

The very next day, I attended mass at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C.  That in itself was a soul-quenching experience.  We spent a meager two hours exploring the basilica and all of its altars and prayer corners.  I spent way too much money at the gift shop… (First Communions are just around the corner!)  But mostly, I learned a lot about the richness and traditions of my Faith.  I came away determined to delve more deeply and research more thoroughly these lesser known saints and Madonnas. (Our Lady of Siluva? Amazing story there…)

My next journey took me an hour west of D.C. to a dear blogging friend.  She is my quasi-mentor, although she would cringe at such a title, so I will simply call her a friend.  Having never met her, yet knowing all about her, made it an interesting dichotomy.  It seemed absurd for me to make such an effort to see her, but I was determined.  And I am so very glad I did.  Once again, conversation flowed easily, her children charmed and welcomed me, and the visit came to a close much too soon.  They all shared their joys and struggles of living very much in the world while not wholly belonging.  It is a balance this soccer-crazed family has to continually monitor.  They are so very visible and such a witness with her writing and their activities.  But they are also an obvious target.  What fortitude and courage is present in this home.  I found myself strengthened and heartened in my own resolve to remain steadfast and faithful while witnessing to the world.

Boarding the plane for Dallas on Mother’s Day, I was exhausted.  So much ground had been covered, so many conversations and heart-to-heart talks shared… this melancholic introvert was spent.  I was glad for the almost empty flight going home.  I needed some quiet to digest all that I had seen and heard.  I was going home to the crazy busy-ness of my life that leaves little to no time to reflect.  I was grateful for this, and eager to see my family, of course.  But I wanted to bask in the glow of solidarity.  It was encouraging to know that even in our Nation’s Capitol there are pockets of Virtue, families who are living witnesses to Gospel Charity everyday.

These little wellsprings of Truth may just be the saving grace of us all.

Megan is an independent contributor to MetroCatholic publications. She publishes the blog Life in a Nutshell under the Pseudonym “Nutmeg”. She describes herself as a “Catholic Mama” who can be found most days with her hair in a bandana, bare feet on the floor, teaching her 5 little peanuts.

“I need quality time with my friends, especially my best friend, my Dear Husband… almost as much as I need the sweet southern rays of the sun. I keep sane by…frequent adoration, listening to my favorite music, reading, and playing soccer. Who says there is only one path to heaven?”

Posted by Megan · Filed Under DFW Spotlight, MC Blog 

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