There's no place like home...reflections after a visit

[sr.christinaosf]

Reprinted from Our Franciscan Fiat
I just got back from spending some days back in West St. Paul, Minnesota. I had been asked to speak at a few gatherings (church youth group, my former professor's writing class, and a benefit dinner for the youth group). I'm not very experienced in public speaking, except for a small weekly Bible study for our residents and a college class in the discipline over ten years ago, but I thought I'd better do it when asked. While I was there, I also got the chance to go swimming, something I haven't done in quite a long time. We used to go to the city pool very often in the summer when I was growing up, and I love the water! I had fairly long hair as a girl, and the chlorine took its toll on my prized position at the time (that is, my hair). My mom had to trim the split ends and cut more than I wanted. Little did I know at the time that one day my hair would be very short! Last Thursday, with my short hair, after the fun-filled swim, I didn't need much shampoo (a short hair cut does have its perks.)

Along with the nerve-racking speaking engagements, I also had the chance to see some family and friends, which was nice. I also saw some former members of the church youth group that I hadn't run into in years. It gave me a funny, awkward feeling to come back "home" and to realize that life keeps moving on, with or without me. I used to know the ages of all my cousins, neighbors, and family friends, what grade they were in, and so forth; now, we are all young adults with lives of our own outside the family environments in which we grew up. As I've moved away and embraced a new life, I'm no longer "up on all the details" as I once was. Although I am grateful for this time of my "home visit" and very much appreciate the people who made it possible (namely my parents and people who filled in back here), I was also very grateful to come back to St. Anne's in Grand Forks, which is my new home. I felt the truth in the common saying, "It's nice to go, and nice to get back again."

Sr. Christina M. Neumann, OSF

Edited April 29, 2015 by sr.christinaosf

[SophiaMaria]

Glad to hear you had a nice home visit.  I'm friends with your sister.  She's a good Woman.  It must be a huge blessing to have a supportive family when you go for home visit but still a blessing to return to your new home.  Could you share a bit with us about what home visits were like for you in the beginning and how family and friends reacted? 

[sr.christinaosf]

It's a small world!  We are given two weeks a year for our home visit. In the beginning, I took it all at once.  Actually, during the canonical year of novitiate, we do not go home so the time got filled visiting people I hadn't seen for a while.  Now, to make scheduling easier, I've been asked to break it up.  I don't really know what to say as to how people reacted.  They accepted my vocation and life went on.  Even before I became a sister, I think most people knew I was looking into it (after I became open about the fact.)

[sr.christinaosf]

I might mention I haven't been taking a full two weeks at home lately, due to various issues.  Last year, I spent part of my time helping with our Mother-Daughter Days program at our provincial house in Hankinson.  My mom also was on the weekend.  I'd like to do that again this year.