On Thursday morning, 6 August 2009, an intriguing woman I had unexpectedly met for the first time the Sunday before, called to inform me, she was disturbed that she could not see me. Her internal discontent was met with a response . . . “Christine has not been introduced to the world yet.”
Four days after my evocative memoir was published on 29 January 2013, I was unexpectedly introduced to Perpetua’s diary during a H2 documentary. The narrator’s mention of the name Vibia Perpetua, elicited my unexpected response, “It’s her. I know her.” Needless to say, my life has unfolded quite differently ever since.
Up until that moment, I was busy with architectural designs; and had spent a good portion of 2012, speaking, commenting on various blogs, and pleading with God to have Pope Benedict step down . . . “The Church won’t survive with him as Pope.” With such thoughts resounding within the deepest recesses of my mind; and with a healthy dose of levity, I had launched my author website and blog . . . posting my first entry a week before my memoir was published . . . and continuing once a month with playful, reflective comments.
Christian faiths speak often of Guardian Angels and their interactions in our lives. Being unexpectedly introduced to Saint Perpetua, and the unfolding of her being intricately knit together with me throughout my life were unsettling. Our experiences are also some of the most precious, and intimate moments that remain close to my heart . . . however another unexpected personal encounter comforted, challenged and inspired my fuller expression of faith . . . A faith held close that had proverbially become cloistered by choice.
Two amazing women, Perpetua and n, helped introduce me to a more expansive world . . . and both contributed to the curtailment of blog posts for these past years.