Committing to More than a Tattoo

I had to laugh this morning when I looked at the paper. Every morning I look for this little box inside the Datebook section, entitled: “Public Eavesdropping.” Readers send amusing remarks to Leah Garchik, who makes them part of her daily column.

Today it reads: One woman was heard saying to another,
“I can’t commit to anything except tattoos.”

We live in a society where the “C” word is frightening to many.  We live in a culture where there are so many choices . . . and sometimes making a choice shuts out other ones, and that’s . . .that’s  . . . that’s . . . a commitment. It feels safer to keep one’s options open.

Strangely enough, I live in a culture – the convent – where we have uttered the “C” word, and have made vows that will hold us, and that we will hold, for the rest of our lives. That final commitment – perpetual or solemn vows – keeps us from making other choices. But it also frees us to give ourselves in ways we couldn’t otherwise. It also means I have sisters that I share this commitment with. I’m not going it alone!

The gift of this life is that one can try it for a time and see if it fits. Sometimes it’s not clear how God is calling us. And our answers are often found in our living of our lives. So before sisters, brothers, and priests say the “C” word, we get to try the life on for size – for five to nine years.

Most of the nuns I know are okay with the concept of commitment of their lives. But they are a bit squeamish about the commitment of a tattoo! (except for the really brave ones, of course!)