Our flights went very well all the way to Ndola. We had to wait for a while to get tickets out of Sioux Falls because British Airways thought we were getting on their plane that afternoon and had not figured out we were still in the United States yet. After that was sorted out we were able to travel uninterrupted. The flight to Chicago went well, but the one to London went even better. The next excerpt is from my journal and tells of a friendship that I still cannot explain.
Well, I am just delighted to be on my way to London right now. It’s currently 12:05 am and I have spent the last 3 hours talking to Father Abbot Marcel Rooney. What a joy! He has been sharing stories about his life which includes becoming an abbot and teaching at the Vatican and later becoming the president of the Abbots. This job included adjudicating various monasteries and abbeys including the Westminster Abbey in Mission BC. (Which can be seen from my back porch for those of you who don’t know where that is.) He also worked very closely with Pope John Paul II. They both travelled frequently and the pope was always interested in what was going on around the world whenever Father Abbot Rooney returned to the Vatican. In addition to being good friends, the Father Abbot aided the Pope in his private chapel every day mass was held there.
It was very interesting to talk to him throughout the flight. I did not sleep very much. I learned a lot about the Roman Catholic traditions and even more about Benedictine monks and the history that follows them. Father Abbot was on his way to the Vatican to give a tour to university students. He was showing them all of the cathedrals around Rome and giving a lot of history behind them. He had so much knowledge to offer that it would have been cool to go with him to Rome and learn more about the history of the Catholic Church. He was very excited to hear of our trip to Zambia and wants to hear about it when I get back. Father Abbot was very interested in the work that we were doing and the work of the gospel around the world which I found encouraging as a fellow brother in Christ.
I mentioned earlier that I still cannot explain the friendship that the Abbot and I have. As soon as we sat down and shook hands there was some sort of bond between us. We started talking and it seemed as though we had been friends for years. There was an inner peace somewhere inside and both of us felt it. Halfway through the flight the two of us got a bit giddy because we realised that the meeting between us was of no coincidence and that it was indeed the Lord at work. He mentioned that he had seen me waiting by the gate and had picked me out specifically as having a serenity about me. So, I do not know how to take that comment but know that it was not by accident that we ended up sitting next to each other. He and I were not supposed to be on the same flight as I was supposed to go a day before and him a day later.
From this interaction I have to admit that the Holy Spirit is at work wherever we go. Friendships are wonderful things, and knowing that you do not have to say goodbye but instead say “see you on the flip side” is a comfort. It was easy leaving Father Abbot and knowing that someday we will meet again where there will be stories to share about the work being done in the kingdom of God.
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