Yesterday being Father's day, it seemed appropriate to discuss fathers in this weeks blog. We have a tradition here at Clyde to set up a table dedicated to fathers and then each sister puts out a photo of her father whether living or deceased. It can be fun to try and guess whose dad is whose especially in the old black and white photos. I usually pick a photo of my father, Ed, playing the accordion since that was his great love, after my mother of course (although sometimes my mother questioned that!).
I took the opportunity at our noon meal to ask different sisters at the table what their father thought of them entering the convent. Sadly, some of them lost their father at a young age so dad wasn't around when they did enter. One sister lost her father to cancer but we asked her if her dad would have been surprised at her choice if he had lived. She laughed and said, "probably not."
Some fathers were very proud. That was the case in my own experience. Mom told me that when Dad found out I wanted to enter the convent that he wanted to run down to the local newspaper office and have a story written up. My home town has a population of 710 people and puts out a paper once a week...I would have been embarrassed to death! My oldest brother said Dad would 'pop his buttons' every time he would talk about me after I entered. Even though he was thrilled, he was a practical man and when we were discussing what I should do with my finances when I entered, he said, just keep it tucked away some where for awhile...things happen." Another sister said that while her father was okay with it, he told her, "Just come home if it doesn't work."
One sister said her father had a photo of her in her habit that he carried around in his pocket and would show people because he was so proud. Another sister related the following story: in the late 1940's sisters weren't allowed to have their pictures taken. However, her father came to her first profession and naturally wanted to take her picture. So he said, "Your rules aren't my rules," and asked the mother superior about it and was allowed to take his daughter's picture. I suspect he might have done it anyway without her permission.
One of our current junior sisters was 23 when she entered. Her family was not thrilled about her entering so I went to visit the family so I could answer their questions and hopefully make them see we aren't a group of weirdos. (That meant I had to be on good behavior, which I CAN do when called for) Her mom, dad and sister came along to pick me up at the airport and then we drove to a garage to pick up a car that had had some work done on it. So her dad says to me, "Sr. Ruth, you come with me," as we separated into 2 vehicles. So it was with some trepidation I got into the car alone with her father. He wasted no time and got right to the point with his questions. However, he asked what I call 'good parental' concern and practical questions...that's what a good father does. So our car ride wasn't so bad after all.
I didn't always see eye-to-eye with my dad. Really, what kid does? However, I suppose if I'm honest with myself I don't always see eye-to-eye with God, my Father. When some tragedy happens I question God, "Why did you let that happen? Where were you?" And I really don't get a satisfactory answer. However, just as when my earthly dad and I would argue, I knew in spite of that he would always be there for me. So it is with my heavenly father, he is faithful and steadfast in his love, even when I want to argue with him about how he is running the world. I suspect when Ed Starman made it to heaven 2 years ago, he probably asked God, "Why did you make her so stubborn?" :)
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