Dashboard Jesus At The Wheel

"I feel bad when I see a priest or a nun with the latest car.

This cannot be! Maybe you need one to move around for work

but get one that is more humble."

- Pope Francis 

    As some of you may know, I just recently inherited my own set of wheels. Shout out to my awesome Mommom and Poppop for that one! I've had my license for four years this August but until this Summer, I had been riding around in style in the red mom van. I was infamous for the mom van, especially on road trips with my friends. I mean who else could drive all her friends around in one car?! And so, while the surprise of inheriting a car was fantastic, moving from the mom van was bittersweet. I've officially had this "new" car for just about a month now and slowly but surely I am making it mine. One of the first things I did, however, was stick my Dashboard Jesus right smack in the middle of the dash. 

    About two weeks ago, as you might recall, I was helping out at CREW 2013. It is seriously something I look so forward to every year and I couldn't wait for it to begin. Of course, I think I learned more about cars in the few days of CREW than I had in any Driver's Ed class or behind the wheel. You see, the week was car-themed. So, we reflected on the idea of the Rear-View Mirror, the brakes and even AAA. I don't believe in coincidences, I believe in God-Winks and so, it didn't come as any surprise that I had literally, two weeks prior, inherited a new set of wheels. And boy, have they really been coming in handy. 

   Post and Pre CREW, I had the awesome experience of driving a bunch of my Sisters here and there. Maybe it was an ice cream date or a lunch date or even a chauffeur to home. Regardless, suddenly, it seems, my Big Sisters finally trust me behind the wheel. Regardless, the wheel has been in my hands recently and that's really no big deal. Before, I would say it would make me super nervous to drive the Sisters, but now, no problem. Especially with the help of Dashboard Jesus. He not only is there to watch over me, but He is a great conversationalist. One sister got in the car and immediately started laughing. This later resulted in her reenacting Dashboard Jesus to the CREW girls. Another Sister got in the car and immediately started dancing. Jesus was dancing, she said, and that was a huge reflection for her during retreat. Of course, another Sister, being the realist that she is, asked what He was doing with His hands. His hands are open, pointing toward Heaven reminding me that I am always being looked upon from Heaven. 

    Okay so maybe Dashboard Jesus is a little ridiculous, but at least when I look out in a parking lot, my very common Ford Taurus sticks out. Of course, many of my friends have already joked that the Ford Taurus, while very appropriate as my sign is a Taurus, looks very much like a nun car. And even more so because it has Dashboard Jesus. But this statement got me thinking: what exactly constitutes something as a nun car? When I got back in the car this morning after Mass, I found I had left the radio on (a bad habit I will probably never be able to knock...at least it's not the lights). On the radio was the typical 92.5 xtu Philadelphia Country Radio Station. One little known fact about me is that I love country music, more than any other genre probably. This may be because country songs have so much meaning, depth and devotion to emotion in them. But it is most likely because I have always been a country girl at heart. 

     So this country girl at heart saddled up, turned the dial down a little and put the car in drive. As I was driving through Bristol, the morning show talk hosts were discussing what type of car Jesus would drive. I never actually thought about this notion, despite the fact that if Jesus was walking the earth now, He would most definitely need a car. Instantly my creative mind went crazy. If Jesus drove a car...hmmm....my go to car for humble people, the rusty, red, old pick-up truck. It's simple, it's real, it's afforable, it's got good gas mileage and it putters around so everyone knows it's coming. I imagined Jesus with a cowboy hat, tapping the wheel with one hand and the other hand out the window. Of course, Jesus wouldn't be smoking, but He'd be eying up the crops, wondering who was going to help Him harvest. Jesus was a harvester, so in my mind, a farmer in some sense and He had to have a farming truck to get around. Plus, it's the type of car I have always dreamed about. 

     However, if we were being reasonable, Jesus wouldn't be driving a truck. You see, there's only room for two more people in a pick-up truck, unless you filled the bed up. So, if we were really thinking about this, Jesus would most likely drive a fifteen passenger work van like we do when we're in New Orleans. Why? Well, He did have twelve apostles after all and we can't forget about the ladies in His life: Mary Magdalene and his mother, who definitely rode shotgun. So, He would most definitely need those fifteen seats. I imagine He'd use this work van whenever He was out with His disciples. But when He needed to retreat to the mountain or something, He'd take His rusty, red, old pick-up truck with His dashboard filled with bobble heads of those He loves: a dashboard Becca and a dashboard Maria and a dashboard Frankie and a dashboard everyone. 

    While I was imagining all of this, I sort of tuned out to the real message behind the discussion. But after I finished laughing at myself, I realized the Talk Show hosts were discussing Pope Francis' call for humility in even the cars we drive. Jesus wouldn't drive a Cadillac so why do so many priests and sisters drive fancy cars? Wow, what a good perspective, Francis. I was reminded once again why I love our new Pope so much. Not only is he right on the money for humility, poverty and simplicity, but he also has everyone talking about him: Catholics, Protestants, non-denominationalists, everyone. And everyone loves him. I definitely had a smile from ear to ear while listening.

      The conversation ended when someone mentioned that Pope Francis himself drives a simple Ford Focus. Say what?! A Ford? A Ford Focus? Well, I don't drive a Ford Focus, but I think a Ford Taurus is close enough. If the pope can drive a simple car, so can I. Now, I wonder if he has a dashboard Jesus. If not, I might totally mail him one. Kudos, Frannie, Kudos. And keep on living the Gospel!

Adios y Via Con Dios

"Senor, me has mirado a los ojos,

sonriendo has dicho mi nombre,

el la arena he dejado mi barca,

junto a ti, buscare otro mars."

- Cesareo Gabarain, "Pescador de Hombres"

     Typically, when a college student has the "retired dean" as her teacher, she would be nervous and perhaps very wary on taking the class. Me, however? I was ecstatic. While Sister Elaine and I go as far back as my Freshmen year as "Tuesday Pew Buddies," our relationship was merely that. The only interaction that entailed was a secret handshake at the sign of peace that varied weekly. She was the academic dean of the undergraduate students. So, if you saw her, you were probably in trouble. But last semester, she had found herself out from her office and back in the classroom. Poor girl had to deal with me and five of my friends as her only students in her Ancient and Medieval Literature. As quickly as she went from dean to teacher, she went from teacher to mentor. Sister Elaine, in a few short weeks, became well....like a sister to me. 

     I remember it clear as day: yet another MyIU email sent out to cloud every IU student's inbox. Usually, I would read the subject box and if it didn't apply to me, I'd delete it. But this one was different. I opened it and read, realizing it was the trip I so badly wanted to go on: Peru IHM Mission Experience. And who was running to show but Sister Elaine. So, I expressed my desire to go to her but so much was on my plate that I didn't even get to think of what I was going to write for my application when I realized it was past the due date. That's when Sister pulled me aside and asked where my application was. Taking my chances, I asked for an infamous extension and it was granted. I emailed her my application over Thanksgiving and with much enthusiasm, she replied to tell me to start saving now. No one else had heard back. I thought I was dreaming. I said nothing to anyone about anything. It couldn't be true. There was no way I had been chosen as one of the four students to travel to Peru. A few days later, the official email went out and I found myself beginning a new journey. 

     Tonight, I sit here after having just gone to the movies (I'm a little reckless, I know!) and am thinking how blessed I am. Of course, I'm typing away hastily trying to shove the anxiety back down into my stomach. Writing distracts me. That's a secret you should all know by now. It's also what I do best! I still can't quite grasp the fact that tomorrow, I will be leaving my country for another. Not for vacation, not for tourism, but to maybe make a difference. I won't be staying for a week, or ten days, but a month. I won't be living in a hotel, a condo but a convent. I'll be wearing one of four pairs of pants, or maybe one of two pairs of shorts and one of the seven t-shirts I packed. I hope it doesn't rain because the one jacket I'm bringing, isn't water proof. Oh, and I know maybe a few phrases in Spanish. Good thing I'll be teaching English! This may be one of the most spontaneous and nerve-wrecking things I have ever done but it's a beginning to a future I have always desired. 

     I live for those spur of the moment moments where there is little planning and I can fit all I need for this spontaneity in one bag. Well, I have two this time, but that's okay. I desire that simplicity of a world traveling missionary. I want nothing more to travel the world lending my heart and hands to those in need. And here I am, one year after my first international trip to Jamaica, the night before I leave for Peru. I am excited and nervous and anxious all in one, as any of you could imagine. I don't know a soul down in Peru, I don't know much about anything for this trip. All I know, is that I am exactly where God wants me at this moment in time. I know that God is going to take care of me no matter what and I know that this is all part of His most beautiful plan for my life. 

      As I travel tomorrow, I'll be simple. A pair of shoes, jeans, a shirt and a sweater. I'll be wearing an eight dollar watch, a simple silver band on my left ring finger, and my curly hair will most likely be wild and crazy; there's no taming it. I'll be wearing a smile and carrying in my heart all who I leave behind. But most importantly, my sisters and my parents. While this is something I have always desired, this will be a true test and taste of what the rest of my life will be like. Can my parents and sisters let me go? Can they stand not being able to talk to me? Will they be okay? ..... Will I be okay being so far away and so out of touch? People have told me I am fearless. I have no fear of people or what people could do. I seemingly am not afraid to reach out and touch a stranger, or do something so crazy (like leave for a month). But the truth is, I have one fear in this life long mission of mine: can my heart stand being so far away from those I love?

      So to all of you, who are excited and worried and just as anxious as I am for my mission trip, please know that I love you. I love you so much, that the very thought of being so far away from you all, fills my heart with some sort of anguish. But in saying that, I carry you all with me in my heart. I can sleep tonight with no worries because all of you are praying for me, more than I think I can even fathom. I will let my excitement run my dreams tonight. I'm not quite sure what kind of technology I will be blessed with down in Peru. If I could, I'd go without it but I know my parents and many of you will be worrying. So, look for a message here and there from the good ole Peru. I can't thank you enough, especially all my church ladies (and gents) who gave me my final blessing this morning at Mass, for all the prayers and support not only for now and this little journey of mine, but throughout my entire discernment journey. I am so blessed to have such beautiful people in my life. Of course, I kind of owe this all to my dear monjita, Sister Elaine. Thanks, girl. Don't worry, I'll give you EVERY DETAIL about this journey! And so, Adios y via con dios, mis amors. I can't wait to meet and love so many new monjitas and ninos. Te amo!