London's Tyburn Convent is steeped with history. Near the grounds
is the epic site where 105 Catholic martyrs were killed between 1535 and
1681. Today, some 22 nuns live and work in the convent. They attend
chapel seven times a day, and they are on constant duty to help those who
seek guidance or prayer. Here, a few of the nuns loosen up with a game of
snooker, and therapist Beverly Engel looks at the harmony they
share.
Mother Simeon:People come here because we're in the
center of London, and the door is open from half-six in the morning to
half-eight at night. There's always a sister on duty. People just come
and ring the doorbell. They ask us to pray for them or their friends and
family.
We're like sisters, and a family, but on a different level. The
talk isn't just gossip, and there's no complaining. And we don't talk
about personal things. We don't have particular friendships with sisters,
and we don't have favorites. You have to learn to treat the
sisters you might not take to the same way you would treat the ones
you would naturally warm to.
We only have an hour of recreation every day, so it's a good time
to exercise and refresh ourselves. In the winter we play snooker. In the
summer we play badminton. Our day is balanced with prayer, work and
study, so we need a bit of relaxation. At recreation, we sometimes talk
about the news. Or a sister will share necessary information about people
who have asked us to pray for them. Or we just have
general conversation about what we are doing while we're making a
craft or playing a game like Scrabble.
Sister Petra:Everyone spends time at her own tasks,
and then everyone comes together to forget about duties. We rest for a
while and, if it's possible, enjoy fresh air in the garden.
Sister Marion:Because we live the community life, we
do everything together. We're all here for the same purpose. Everything
else fits around this. Recreation is important because we don't usually
talk unnecessarily. So it is a time to get closer to the other sisters,
to talk and to relax.
Nuns playing snooker. Pretty funny. But they remind us of an
important message-for any community, family or working team to function
successfully we need to bond and spend quality time together. Getting
much needed recreation is an excellent way to do this. More important is
the insight into how the nuns create harmony in their community: no
gossiping, no complaining, no favorites. There is inclusion of all, no
matter how difficult a person may be. It's a pretty tall order, but
harmony is created when we treat one another, and ourselves, with respect
and when we put aside our petty concerns for the good of the whole.
Thanks for the lesson, sisters.
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