I couldn’t believe it when Ralph told me he was 18. We talked for a good fifteen minutes, and that wasn’t even close to the age I was going to guess. He told me how he had spent a couple of years in seminary to study to be a priest, but then decided to go to a public college to get a degree in philosophy first. When I asked him what he wanted to do with that he said, “Well I either want to continue and become a priest, or become a lawyer because someone needs to fight with morals.” Then he told me he was 18.
We talked a little about the oppression and corruption there is in this country and how many people are studying in seminaries or monasteries. The only problem is that the country is run by politicians and other government officials. It’s great to have good men in the country, but when they have no earthly authority, it’s hard to fight earthly battles. I asked him what he thought God’s calling was on his life. He just laughed and said, “I’m 18, remember? I’ve got plenty of time to figure that one out.” I couldn’t help but laugh at myself and how I was actually playing the old man in the conversation. This was a totally new role for me.
The conversation moved on and I found out he was finishing up his third year of college with only one more to go. When I asked him what the plan was next, he told me that he expected to spend a couple of months withdrawn and in silence to get direction before his final year of college. Honestly, I just coasted into my final year of college, already looking a few years down the line. I was curious about God’s direction for my life, but until He intervened, I knew where I was headed (or so I thought…). Ralph won’t even start his fourth year unless God gives him the green light. Because, if God wants him to finish his priesthood, then Ralph is out of college and headed back to seminary. Each year is a reevaluation.
When I tried to press into some of his family background and upbringing, the subject didn’t stay there very long. I could tell there was something a little more there, but I just let him lead the conversation for a while. He told me how blessed he was to meet a missionary, and I told him how blessed I was to meet someone who lived out what the Bible says. I don’t know the last time I spent an hour in silence, much less days or weeks. It has to be crazy to have that kind of faith.
As I walked away from the conversation, I felt like I was the one that was blessed. So often, I feel the need to ask the right questions or give the right answers that I rarely take the time to listen. As I heard about Ralph’s “plan” it was nice just to listen. I didn’t worry about the questions because they just came natural, and all I did was enjoy the presence of another brother and just hang out. Sometimes, it’s just that easy…
