How much do we see? In our daily lives, how much do we see of the people, places, and situations around us? The hustle and bustle, the rush and push, all keep us focused mostly on the path in front of us. We give only casual glances to what we pass and often even those on the path with us.
Mission is an opportunity to notice. Off our usual path, the mundane becomes surprising. Moving more slowly, every detail becomes a discovery. Taking in new surroundings, the quick glance becomes a fixed examination. These new ways of acting are particularly common during our first days in Guatemala.
Our second day of mission took us from the historical capital of Guatemala across high mountain roads and through miles of traffic to the main city in our sister diocese of Huehuetenango. After an extended day of travel on Thursday, yet another day of travel should have left us weary, but our new surroundings energized, intrigued, and centered us so we might begin to notice this new people, new place, and each other.
Our first stop after leaving Antigua Guatemala was a historical site called Iximche. Still an active religious site, Iximche features structures which existed before the arrival of Europeans to this continent. Standing on this holy ground, we reflected on what it means to enter into a place foreign to us. We considered how to do this in a way that respects Guatemalans—both past and present.
During our reflection, Joyce Bird, a parishioner from St. Columbkille Parish, shared how the mission had already become an opportunity for her to be present and mindful. Like all of us, her life is filled with much activity. The delays of the previous day, which might normally have been annoyances and frustrations had become opportunities because she was able to slow down, notice and be present in those moments. She was looking forward to continuing to maintain this pace and connectedness.
Keith Promes, a Holy Ghost parishioner, shared how he noticed a group of pre-teen boys who were also visiting Iximche. He saw how happy they were, though he guessed their lives were very different from children he knows. This made him think how, though we come from different cultures and places, we all share so much as children of one god.
After our reflection, we journeyed together up and down mountains until we arrived at our home for two nights: the city of Huehuetenango. On Saturday we will learn more about the people with whom we will be working over the next ten days and their home, directly from them. Hopefully our new missionary pace will help us notice the people behind the faces and the stories beyond the words so we can serve and be served ourselves.
