Lepers

As I waited for Saturday morning to come, I was experiencing some anxiety. You see, I was about to head off to my first class on my road to the diaconate. I was nervous like a 5 year old on the first day of kindergarten.

I wouldn't know anyone else in the class. What if they made fun of me? What if no one liked me? What if they said I wasn't good enough? My lovely wife would try to reassure me that it would be OK. I wasn't ready to really believe it. Part of me did not feel worthy to be there. I mean, I had only recently reignited my life in Christ. 

So, Saturday morning comes. I get up early to make sure I got down there in time. I prayed a rosary on the way. I get there early. I walk in nervously. The instructor is nice. She tells me to take a seat at one of the big tables. I do so and wait nervously for the other 'kids' to show up. 

One by one they come in and sit down. At other tables. I am all alone. Finally, one guy comes and sits at my table. After about thirty seconds he gets up and leaves. Shrugging his shoulders as he leaves. 

My worst fears have been realized, I AM A LEPER. I sat there and prayed like never before asking God, "Why is this happening to me?". I look up and the gentleman that had come and gone was motioning for me to come join his table. Happily, I got up and went to join them. 

The rest of the day was wonderful and I think I am going to have some new friends for my journey. I pray for them as often as I can and they pledged to pray for me also. So, this is how my day went: anxiety to fear to horror to relief to joy. 

God taught me a great lesson that day. And the class was good too.