Why is that chicken wearing glasses?

"It was pride that changed angels into devils; it is humility that makes men as angels."
St. Augustine

The voice on the other end of the phone belonged to the parish secretary. Still dressed in my nightgown and absorbed in matters of financial aid for my college-sophomore son, I heard her say, "Mary, were you supposed to be here for something special this morning?" Several stomach-turning seconds passed before it registered. I was scheduled to speak at a mother's support group at 10 a.m. and had completely forgotten. Her question, I thought, was an extremely polite way of saying, "Where the heck are you? There's a room full of mothers sitting here waiting for a coherent, meaningful presentation on parenting and you blew it!"

Fortunately, it was only 10:15 a.m. so after spewing a litany of apologies I threw on an oversized sweatshirt, the nearest skirt and raced to the church with hair askew looking like my mother did on laundry days.

Once in front of this delightful group of women, I apologized profusely -- again -- for my forgetfulness, my tardiness and my unprofessional appearance, but their gracious nods and smiles of understanding made it clear I wasn't the only person who ever experienced such embarrassing moments. As the years go by, it's the sheer frequency of such journeys into the twilight zone that is disturbing!

When I related the story to my husband later that day, he asked if I had given the excuse of car trouble to explain my lateness rather than risk embarrassment by admitting I forgot. He should know me better by now.

Just a few months ago he asked me the same question on a similar occasion. I had been 20 minutes late to a meeting at a local elementary school because, once in my car, I had absentmindedly driven to the wrong school. He found it incredulous that I had admitted to the principal and development team who had been expecting me that I had forgotten where I was going.

He has no compunction, however, in sharing the story with anyone who will listen of the day when I roasted my eyeglasses with the chicken.

It started out as a normal day. I was preparing a chicken for dinner and needed my glasses to follow some instructions. Of course they were no where to be found, but then again, that's not unusual. I lose them several times a day.

I put the chicken in the oven and went about my work. When it came time for dinner, I took the chicken out of the oven and put it on the counter. By now, my children were doubled over with laughter as my husband chided, "Were you looking for your glasses? Take a look at that studious chicken." Glancing down at the roasting pan I found a bespectacled bird, glasses perched neatly on the end of his scrawny neck as if he had been busy reading the evening paper while roasting to a slick golden brown. The funny thing was that, while the lenses had fallen out into the gravy at the bottom of the pan, the frames were completely intact. Perhaps I had stumbled on to a new marketing strategy for the manufacturer -- oven-proof frames for the occasionally incompetent

Ten years ago I might have "fibbed" on all these occasions, but over the years I have come to understand that humility is a "pearl of great price" when it comes to divine gifts. Admitting to our failings and our mistakes is not a sign of weakness, but rather, spotlights our humanity, and in doing so, enables us to empathize with others. Our visible humanity makes us accessible to those who need support or comfort, or to those who just need to feel that they are not alone as they try to negotiate around the potholes of life.

Speaking of potholes, did I ever tell you about the time I fell in one? Now that's a story!

_______________________________________

Mary Morrell is the author of Angels in High Top Sneakers from Loyola Press

Contact

Diocese of Metuchen
http://www.diometuchen.org NJ, US
Mary Morrell - Associate Director, Office of Religious Education, 732 562-1990

Email

mmorrell@diometuchen.org

Keywords

humility

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