By Sister Justine Nutz, SSND, for Newslink
Recently, a friendly teenaged waiter asked four of us, all SSND over 80, “What was the best time in your life?”
He was astounded as each of us said, “Now!”
Assuring him that we are happy with our lives and ages, we told him a bit more about our community and ministries. Then we shared a few "Trust and Dare" stories among ourselves.
Over the years, I was asked or offered to move into all sorts of unfamiliar ministerial situations. Having lots of physical and imaginative creative energy, I was quick to respond and act - to do anything, go anywhere.
Some things were deemed foolish at the time, like spending a summer in the 1970s in a Vietnamese orphanage during the war, and leaving the classroom in the 1980s for 16 years of ministering among homeless women in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and Manhattan.
My mother cried when an SSND in my home parish told her, “Mother Theresa would not approve of your daughter.”
I inherited the spirit of my parents who emigrated from Germany for the adventure of America. The adventurous spirit in all the Theresa and Caroline stories helped to attract me to SSND. My life in SSND has always felt adventurous.
Now, the courage, faithfulness, and kindness of my aging Sisters surrounds and heartens me as together we pray, play, work, and witness within our SSND mission and commitments.
"Retired" sounds much too weak to describe our lives at this time! As my physical energy slowly declines, I sense God transforming it into more mental, creative, and spiritual energy.
NOW feels like my greatest "Trust and Dare" time.
An early riser, I wait for the sun to shine on my daily bread of ailments, anxieties, hopes, joys, and surprises. I pray to accept each day, and my graced adventure of aging.
