
Living City
When love of neighbour is first priority
When I moved to a major U.S. city to attend music school last year, I made the resolution to work hard on my fine arts degree but to always make loving my neighbours the first priority.
All my resolutions however nearly went up in smoke when I arrived at school and was beset by what felt like every difficulty imaginable! The place where I was living was a huge dormitory in a very dangerous part of town, and since I had always lived with my family in a nice neighbourhood, it was a big change for me. Additionally, our family was coping with an immense, unexpected loss, and to be separated from them at such a confusing and painful time was something I felt unable to face.
With new humility, I asked Jesus in the Eucharist to help me look past my own concerns to see my neighbours so that I would never miss an opportunity to love them.
One day while I was riding the bus, I began to chat with the girl sitting next to me. She told me she had travelled from China to attend this music school without knowing anyone or having ever been to the U.S. I couldn’t help but be impressed by this girl, and I felt as if God was nudging me to love her in a special way. I realized that we were in two of the same classes, as well as playing together in the same orchestra. I started to do little acts of love for her whenever I could, such as helping her figure out tough music theory homework or just giving her a smile and a thumbs-up during a particularly tiring rehearsal.
Although I never mentioned to her that I was a Christian, I tried to put into practice the words of Jesus, “Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another” (Jn 13:34).
As the months passed, I could tell that she saw me as a friend. At the end of last semester, she came up to me and asked me if I could do her a big favour. I said yes, imagining more music theory homework, or maybe even jumper cables.
Instead she told me that she would like to become Catholic and asked me to be her godmother. I said yes with a heart full of joy!
Fast forward to the present, and my friend has completed almost all of her formation and will be baptized in a few weeks. I am still marvelling at the miracles God shows us when we love our neighbours!
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