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”Bonjour…” from there, I understand little. “Je ne comprend pas, parlez-vous l’englais?” I replied in my best midwestern version of a French pronunciation. “Non,” he said as he smiled. Getting his phone out, he came over with a quick translation that read: “You cannot sleep?” “Je dormir bon,” I replied…which is a 3-year old version of sort of saying “I to sleep good.” He laughed good-naturedly, following with, “cafe?” Ah, yes. Now we’re really communicating.
It is 4am and I’m sitting in the lobby of the Grand Esperance in Lisieux, France. Four days into our trip and I’m reminded of the wonderful ties that bind our humanity. Language barriers aside, there is much common ground. Looking around I see roads and cars and buildings and shops and people walking about living pretty much the same way we do at home. At such an early hour, of course this hotel guest must be having trouble sleeping, right?
In America, we are highly tuned to “culture” as a reflection of ethnicity and homeland. In our great melting pot, we seek to hold those threads our forbears bequeathed in the form of traditions and maybe even language while we blend into the dynamics of the U.S. in its reflection of so many sub-cultures.
Moving across France, I’m reminded of our Western Heritage, that Judao-Christian culture of philosophy, law, language, art, history, and way of life, that underpins almost every aspect of our modern lives. Yeah, there are many differences, but I can pretty much walk out the door here and go about living in a very similar way to what we experience back home in Indianapolis, Indiana. I find the common ground comforting and encouraging.
Lisieux is a major pilgrimage site for Catholics as it was the home of St. Therese of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face, the Little Flower, a 19th century saint who lived a life of simple prayer, love, and devotion to God and her order. Her “Little Way” reflected a loving commitment to her Carmelite way of life and her model of faithful simplicity has drawn and inspired millions. We will spend today walking along some of her paths and learning more about her life and her way.
St. Therese’ book, “Story of a Soul,” tells of her brief life and describes her “Little Way.” It is still widely read by those who feel drawn to the simple faithfulness and innocent love she lived and espoused. Hers is a story of humble service, acknowledgement of her own littleness, and willingness to face her human failings with great faith.
What is a pilgrim? One definition is “a person who journeys to sacred places for religious reasons.” A very modern tendency is to cast aside all things religious out of a suspicion or disdain for organized religion, and instead pursue a very subjective version of “spirituality.” The truth is that most of us are searching for the “divine” in this world, wanting to connect to it in a deep desire to discern our purpose or find meaning in this world.
In this sense, we are all pilgrims. Moving about this foreign country, interacting with its people and experiencing its way of life, I am reminded of the common ground. Each of us is walking a path and pretty much all of us want to connect to deeper purpose, the meaning that is the “Truth.” In particular, our Western Heritage points squarely at the common ground of our tradition, experience, and our way of life. A way of life that is incredibly similar across much of the world.
Over the last few days, we’ve seen the great Christian cathedrals of Sacre Coeur, Notre Dame, Our Lady in Rouen, and many other lesser known churches. Tomorrow we’ll see the Cathedral in Chartres and move on to Mont St. Michel, located on the coast of Normandy. All of these beautiful places point to the awe and wonder we have in the Divine, and reflect each of our ongoing search for the Truth in our lives; a desire to draw close to our Creator and the love He offers each of us.
Perhaps St. Therese was on to something with her “Little Way.” Maybe it’s really not so complicated after all, and the Truth we all seek in our hearts is right in front of us, waiting patiently. Her life was not easy, but it was simple. Difficulties still found her but she found peace in her faith and humility.
The lights are now on in the lobby. Tourists and pilgrims are beginning to move about and I hear a few familiar words amid the unfamiliar. Mostly, I see human beings walking their way, living their western heritage in a way not dissimilar from the way I live in Indiana. I see people asking many of the same questions of themselves and their life that I ask in my own home. Maybe it’s not so complicated after all.
