Stories from the Middlelands: The Priest and the Heathen
Simon was an Anglican priest from Kenya. He was here in America getting a college education. He got his undergraduate degree in Michigan and then was accepted to a seminary in the small town where I live in Indiana. I first heard about him from my wife. He was attending the Episcopalian church she does here in town. He was soon certified as a priest in the Episcopal church to serve at our local church. He fills in when the full time priest cannot be present.
Simon just got back from spending the summer in Kenya with his wife and children. He is about to start earning his graduate degree in divinity. We took him to dinner today and he was telling me about a story he had written. It was a short story about his life that he wanted to possibly expand upon at a later time. For now he wanted to get what he had in good shape, grammatically speaking. English was not his native language. Jen had told him that I was a pretty good writer and he asked me if I could take a look at his story.
He sent it to me earlier. He had more together than I'd thought- about one fifth the length of an average American novel. It needs some work, but he's got a good story. I won't reveal any details but to say that he described his story as a story of hope. He had come from a very stark place, but he had become a good man and was succeeding in life despite a hard upbringing and against the odds. One thing that has struck me about his story so far is how much food and hunger played a role in his life.
I am not a religious person. I describe myself as an agnostic, but there is a lot more to my beliefs than just that simple description. But when I go to church it's usually just for the social function afterward- coffee hour. The service thoroughly bores me. I like to listen to the sermon, but that's usually just a few minutes of an otherwise boring ceremony that can last an hour and a half. I have heard Simon preach and he's really got the talent for it. I can appreciate a sermon if it is done well even though I may doubt philosophically what is being said.
But more importantly here is what I wanted to say. Whether you believe or do not, whether you are black or white, whether you are American or Kenyan, it is possible to set aside those sometimes vast differences and come together and be friends.
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When you have respect for someone, then you have the basis for friendship or love.
But you must have that.
You do.
My wife is Episcopalian.
I am atheist, or possibly agnostic.
I go back and forth depending on my 'rational thinking' at any particular time.
The priest at Miz t.'s church is a hell of a guy.
I have a lot of respect for him.