Rev. Theophilus Ebulueme Rocks!

Last night, I was part of a celebration for one of our parish priest, Rev. Theophilus Ebulueme or Father Theo as is known to most. Fr. Theo was celebrating many special accomplishments in his life - birthday, priestly anniversary, American citizenship and his Ph.D in counseling. The school gym was packed with 300 + parishioners, well-wishers and a large contingency of Nigerians in national dress.
The music was blaring loud, the place was packed and smells of casseroles permeated the air. It was an assault on all of my senses. It was the kind of evening that jettisons you right out of your bland and boring Saturday night and into another world. The kind of evening we all need every once in a while. And a lazy Sunday morning to recuperate also helps!
I have set upon this path to be a comedian so when Fr. Theo asked me to tell a few jokes at his party how could I refuse? Let's think about this for a minute. Me, a microphone, a large gathering of people and a set I had prepared by myself. Yep, that could be a recipe for disaster.
The microphone was horrid, the acoustics worse and a lot of people seemed oblivious to any person on stage trying to get and hold their attention. But, I gave it my best shot and Fr. Theo laughed so I will claim it as a success.
The biggest success of the evening was not my comedy routine. It was a realization that hit me like a ton of bricks. The realization that I could have never imagined this particular scenario back in 1968 when I was in fourth grade at St. Mary's Parochial School. If someone had given me a crystal ball* at ten years old and I glimpsed 43 years in the future there would not be one thing I would have believed. The whole scenario could have been played out on the surface of the moon and it would not have been any more fantastic.
Nigerians in national costumes were a picture in a library book. My idea of Africa mainly came from Tarzan movies. All the priest I had ever come in contact with were old white men. (Old is subjective here from the viewpoint of a ten-year-old girl but they all were definitely white.) Finally, me on stage in front of people of all colors would have seemed impossible at best. My, how times have changed.
Last night, I felt more connected on a world-wide level than I have felt before. It was familiar and foreign. I felt enlightened and yet still repressed. I acknowledge the growth from my parent's generation yet I know there is much work to do.
Here is the bottom line: I praise God for the journey. I praise God for the experiences. I pray to be more open and accepting. I pray for peace and understanding. I pray God will allow me to grow into more than I am now and continue to surprise me with new scenarios.

*Just so we are clear - My religious beliefs do not embrace crystal balls. The Catholic Church considers it gravely wrong to consult a fortune-teller who is known to seriously claim access to the knowledge of future events. (In case you were wondering?)