I met an up and coming pigeon today at a presentation she was giving to a local clergy group. The minute I met her I was drawn into her spirit — she has a huge, genuine smile and the kind of intelligence that radiates and warms everyone in the room. She’s the kind of woman you just want to be around and it frankly doesn’t matter what she’s wearing.
Talent and charisma like that are rare. It’s always so thrilling when I am in its presence. It makes me so happy and excited for the Church and I can’t wait to watch this shining person go out there and rock the world. This is a seminarian with this a groundedness, innate leadership strength and infectious enthusiasm that you just delight to discover.
She was wearing a jacket and a black jersey skirt that was lopsided in the hem because that’s what that material does if you don’t really carefully set it around your hips and pull it down to an even hem and then carefully zip the jacket over the waistband. Those jersey skirts are murder that way.
Also: if you’re wearing a knee-length or longer A-line skirt and flat shoes, do NOT wear sheer stockings. Wear opaque tights so that you’re not chopping up your body with a visual break between your hem and ankles. Sheer hose really need to be worn with dressier shoes with a heel. They’re frumpy with flats, and not PeaceBang Approved unless you’re over 70 and have earned the right to wear whatever the hell you want.
But as I said, sometimes you meet a true star and you know she could be doing ministry in dirty dungarees and a flannel shirt and you’d still follow her around just to be in her aura. By the way? If you think this might be you, I’m sorry but it’s almost certainly not. One of the qualities that makes these people so remarkable is that they have no idea whatsoever that they are. No clue. They’re just soaked in the Holy Spirit and working so hard they have zero self-consciousness. Special.
The part about ‘this might be you but it is not’ was really funny. Maybe it could be me just enough to rock my beloved Mary Janes. At least they are purple patent leather! Thanks for all the great advice. Love, a lay lurker.
Hi Victoria,
I am in Connecticut this weekend preaching on Maria of Guadalupe. Unfortunately, I bought sheer opantyhose again, but with a different skirt. Thankfully, I will be wearing an alb so hopefully no one will see me.
I think that you are the one with the rock star aura! Before I leave for Christmas, I am going to send you the protest photo from the Boston Herald. You will see all fashionista activistas from Brazil.
It was wonderful finally meeting you, I’ve been following your blog for about five years.
How cool! Look forward to seeing you again and co-officiating. [There’s my gal!!! Have fun in CT, land of my birth. – PB]
Meghan
This post was very inspiring to me, on several levels. You see, as I read through your stunning compliments to the seminarian in question, I initially found myself aching with jealously. As a young female seminarian myself, I positively ache to have that kind of charm.
As you humanized her, with the critique of her clothing, I found a strange warming in my heart: Perhaps… perhaps, I might be this kind of person!
That’s when your comment about how now it’s definitely NOT me, since I thought it, shocked and really wounded me.
You see, for 2.5 years of seminary, I have bought into the chauvinistic, evil lie that I am not good enough because I am a woman. This lie tells me that because of my gender, no matter what kind of personality I have, it will never earn me true leadership, authority, and intelligence. I have bought that lie and I have internalized it. It has taken 1.5 years of therapy to finally come to a place where I can say, in a tiny, meek voice that peeps up from some buried place in my heart: “I am charming, I am lovely, I am wonderful, I am a leader, I am intelligent, I have authority, I am a minister of Jesus Christ.”
So do not tell me that I am not that girl. Because dang it, I am. [Let me gently suggest that you have a lot more work to do in therapy if you find yourself jealous of someone you’ve never met, and so easily emotionally upset by someone’s words on the internet. This does not bode well for your ability to function well in a setting where people are constantly either praising or critiquing you. I’m sorry, but it has to be said. My point was that this particular gal was so talented that her clothing really didn’t matter. I stand by my assertion that the readers who consider themselves in this category shouldn’t presume that. It’s a very, very rare thing, that sort of charisma and star quality. – PB]
My comment was a heartfelt response to the visceral response this post evoked in me. I penned it honestly and without malice, giving it all the same thoughtfulness I give to all the blogs I choose to patron with my readership.
To be told that I need “a lot more” therapy seems to me to be insulting and unpastoral.
I will try to appreciate your candor, for I am truly hopeful that it comes from a place of wanting to help, but I regret to inform you that you have lost a reader today.