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July 22nd.
2009
MOMO
Part of my sharing on the recent General Convention in
my sermon last Sunday was about reconnecting with a seminary classmate
of mine. From Liberia, Momo came to seminary already ordained. He was
five or six years older and all the transitions that come with seminary
were magnified for Momo by the cultural challenges.
Food, clothing, and most significantly the status of women were a
particularly hard adjustment. Momo and I lived in a dorm next door to
each other for three years. This meant we shared a bathroom, a small
kitchen and most challenging a wall. Momo and I kept different hours and
had very different tastes in music.
Living in community for three years together changed us both. We were
two very different individuals pursuing our sense of God’s call in our
lives and yet drawn together by our living situation. In time however,
our own sense of “uniqueness” faded as we began to support each other in
the intense rigors of seminary. We became, as it were, “brothers in
arms” dealing with trials and tribulations that come with a very
demanding academic program.
As he approached me on the second day of General Convention wearing his
traditional African clothing and I in my suit and clerics we both
laughed out loud. “Look at us!” he said in his British influenced
accent. We embraced and began to share the stories of our lives that had
transpired over the last twenty plus years. We were still connected. It
was as if we still lived next door to each other. For the remainder of
our time we shared meals, social gatherings and discussed the actions of
convention on our own ministries. We were and are brothers in Christ
forever.
Blessings,
The Rev. Brian N. Prior, Rector
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