I don’t think it has quite set in that I will be living in Italy for the next few years. What I mean to say is, I still feel like I’m in Italy temporarily—as if I were on vacation. That is obviously not the case.
I am slowly, yet often, reminded of that fact. For example, something so simple as getting my haircut was a larger ordeal than I anticipated. Back home, I simply go get my haircut at the same place where I have been getting it cut for the past 14 years…not the case here. It’s the simple things that I often took for granted back home than I am having the most difficulty adjusting to. Things like having internet access, numerous shops nearby, or a large and cheap meal are just simply not as accessible as they were in the States.However, these nuances have often forced me to appreciate other simpler things in life. For example, for my final class of the day at the Dante Alighieri language school, our quaint “professoressa” took us for a picnic in the beautiful gardens of Siena. All along the way, our teacher would point out the wonderful scent of the rosemary bushes, the budding olives in the trees, and other fruit-bearing plants, while marveling at their beauty. She amazed me by her keen sense for the immense beauty that exists even in the smallest things. It was like watching a toddler point out in amazement all that is pleasing to them—so joyful, so simple, so holy.
Finally, surrounded by Chianti vines and olive trees, we found a cool oasis in the hot summer garden to sit down for an hour, eat a light lunch, and practice our Italian. Perched on an ancient stone wall which sat on the top of a bluff, we overlooked a stunning view of the Tuscan country side—full of olive trees and grape vines—something out of a Hollywood film! It was the perfect end to a long week of studies. I often lament over the fact that my classes take up so much of the day and I rarely get much free time. However, today, I was able to stop, put aside all the stress, worry, and nuances of my new Italian life, and enjoy the beauty of God’s creation here in the heart of Tuscany. It was truly decadent.
Today’s Gospel passage speaks of “taking up your cross and following [Christ].” So often I find myself either complaining about my crosses, or denying them altogether. Or else, I don’t recognize the opportunities to bear my cross. I think the beauty of today’s afternoon picnic may have been God’s way of telling me that “although there will be crosses along the way, what I have in store for you is more beautiful than you could ever imagine.”
