In NYC with The Sisters of Life

Happy (a bit late) Fourth of July everyone! To celebrate we have been in New York City! While we were in Ocean City, MD (that’s where we were until Sun. June 27), we met Father Solomon, the fourth of seven children, at the Stella Maris parish. When he heard we were heading to New York, he got excited and told us how his sister was a Sister of Life in New York City! So of course we knew we had to meet her.

We invited them out to the boat, but when we went to pick them up a storm was brewing, monumental gusts of wind already blasting through as we came up to the marina, plus the clouds threatening to burst at any moment, small drops of rain and sea spray already stinging my skin. Mom and I were ready to bail and have the sisters over another time, but dad was sure we would be more protected inside the small marina. I’m almost certain you have no clue how terrible wind like that is on a boat, you feel that you have no control as the boat is tossed and blown about by even the smallest waves, and you yourself feel as though you’re about to be blown overboard. I prayed God would protect us

At the end of discussing what we should do, anxiety growing as we yelled louder and louder over the growing noise of the wind, Mom and I were at a loss and had no idea what to do, so mom yelled that we would do whatever he told us, he obviously knew the boat better than we did. I prayed he would make a good decision. My heart sunk as he shouted, during a moment of lighter wind, that we had to get into the marina fast, before another gust came. I remember climbing over the protective netting of the boat to tie a line on, I was practically on my belly as I heard another gust blow over my head. “Dear Lord help us,” I whispered as dad put the engines in full throttle, struggling to get us in at the right moment, trying with all his might to keep us straight. I remember my heart coming into my throat as we passed through the narrow entrance. Dad put the engines in complete reverse to slow our progress, the rudder rattling horribly.

A man stood on the dock to help us tie on, my eyes rested with partial relief on him, because at first I hadn’t seen anyone to help us, and dreaded trying to hop on the dock myself. My relief was short lived, a gust of wind blew thru, and try as he might, dad could not stop our boat, in such close quarters, from moving steadily nearer to the dock at the wrong angle. I think I stopped breathing as he tried in vain to avoid the dock’s corner, mom rushed up with her fender, and got it in the right spot, but we continued to move forward. The corner – for it was the corner that seemed to be moving – rolled off the fender and our naked boat hull pushed hard against it, praise God, it was a slow and steady push and no damage was done. I think that was the moment I realized we were going to be okay. I threw the aft line to the man and he easily caught it and held it around the cleat arresting our progress. As soon as the boat stopped moving forward he quickly tied it and ran towards Charlie who held the forward line. As soon as he had tied that line I noticed five Sisters in white and navy habits coming forward onto the dock.

They were all smiling and laughing, trying to shelter themselves from the small droplets beginning to fall. I remember immediately loving them, their faces all smiles and joy, their habits simple and beautiful at the same time, and their aura just radiated the joy of the Lord. We rushed into the boat as the rain began in earnest. I couldn’t help smiling, I’m not sure what I expected, but I don’t think I expected the lively loving people that they were. When they came into our boat, Mom apologized for the mess, even though we had cleaned up, we realized a thousand things we had forgotten. They just smiled and laughed, they understood, after all part of their work is with babies.

When the rain finally quit, three more sisters came out. We shoved off and headed towards Liberty. Sister Zelie was from a nautical family and took a turn driving.

It was very cloudy, and there was always lightning flashing here or there, much to our disappointment. A few times I asked dad if it was really safe for us to be out right now. One of the sisters laughed (they were always laughing) saying it was alright, they took the Eucharist every day and went to Confession often, so they were ready whenever the Lord called them home.

As it was getting dark we had the guitar and the ukulele out, because of course they knew how to play, so they sang us a song. It was a song that Sister Zelie had written about Jesus calling the disciples to follow him. They chose that song because it had a nautical theme. It was absolutely beautiful, and like the sisters habits, was simple at the same time.

I talked with a few of the sisters extensively, it was such a blessing. I had kept asking God for a friend I could talk to (face to face) about real things, who would bring the best out of me, and here they are! It struck me how amazing it is that when you love God and you meet another person who also loves God, you immediately love each other, even if you know nothing about them besides the fact that they love God.

We took them back into the marina with a lot less drama now that everything was still. While we were saying goodbye they sang the Salve Regina. It was one of the most beautiful moments of my life, all of the sisters standing in a circle singing the latin hymn clearly into the still night. I think everyone – and everything – got quiet to listen to them sing. I think the man helping us on and off the dock was crying, but told us he just had a something in his eye. He did confess if was one of the most beautiful things he’d ever heard.

In the end, we didn’t even meet Father Solomon’s sister, but we did meet the most kind, loving, and amazing women we’ve ever met on this whole adventure.