 I volunteered this morning at a local pregnancy care center. It’s a wonderful place, filled with laughter and peace and the love of God. I feel blessed to share in such a ministry, but I must tell you that my time there is causing me to ponder some things. Namely, the Protestant “reformation”. Schism. You know. 
Â
You see, the center is predominately staffed by separated Christian sisters and seems to espouse evangelical “sola Scriptura” theology. And, it really makes a difference. I’m not sure if I can put it into words, but it seems like life for my Christian sisters is so simple. They know they’re saved. God loves them and wants them to be happy. Their world seems to operate on very simple principles and follow very clear rules. Now, I’m sure they have great difficulties in their lives, and I don’t mean to imply that their lives are whitewashed, somehow.
Â
I can’t help but feel, though, when I’m at the pregnancy center, that I’m a something of an oddity, carrying wisps of incense into the center, with my feet grounded in the Mysterious. I know this sounds silly, but I feel like, as a Catholic, I speak a different language than my co-volunteers. In some ways, I’m drawn to the faith of my Christian sisters, to their simple theology and clear Sunday sermons.
Â
Yet, as a Catholic, I know that there’s more. The Mysterious interpenetrates daily life, heaven kisses earth each time the priest celebrates Mass, saints and angels walk through our walls and whisper in our ears. My world is stuffed full of beauty and divinity and holy messiness.
Â
Now, again, I’m sure that my separated Christian sisters would agree that their lives, too, are stuffed full of divinity. But, it’s different. We speak a different language of faith. And, I’m not sure how to share with them the truth of who I am. Please, Jesus, may we be one, as You and the Father are one.
