From time to time, Nadya, a Russian widow, comes to my apartment to sew aprons and shopping bags, but the sewing machine broke last fall. I have been in and out of town, but finally this week, I got the phone number of a “master,” as repairmen are called in this country. Nadya called him and arranged for them both to be at my apartment today to fix the machine. However, Nadya warmed me to stay out of sight when the master arrives, because if he hears me speaking English, he will charge more and it will not be safe for me if he knows I live here by myself. Besides, adding the language component would just make things more complicated. At her urging, I took up my anonymous post in my bedroom. I am grateful for my Russian friends who watch out for me!
To stay more or less “anonymous” (or hidden), much of my activity is behind the scenes, especially since the COVID pandemic which forced months of quarantine in less conspicuous places like residing at the farm. Another restraint this time of year is the weather. One snowy day I had to ask a passerby to help me to my taxi which was waiting to take me to a meeting at our clinic. For several days this past month, I didn’t dare leave my apartment to go to the small grocery store in my building because the sidewalk outside was coated with ice as slick as glass. But then a few days later we got another heavy snow fall which allowed for more traction when walking. I eagerly ventured out by metro to a pharmacy outside my local area to pick up some medicines and traveled on to a shopping mall for a much needed haircut. It felt like I gained part of my life back!
I must say that an anonymous life makes for a quieter life… sometimes too quiet, but most important, the words of John the Baptist guide me through my days. “He [Jesus] must increase and I must decrease” (John 3:30).
In conclusion, I have a few questions:
“He must increase; but I
must decrease.”
John 3:30
Have you ever experienced the “anonymous life”?
How do you maneuver those “shut-in” days due to inclement weather or illness or when you need to re-group and spend time alone in reflection, the value of which can’t be underestimated? (Or if you are thinking, “Who has time for reflection,” how can you carve out even a few minutes out of your week?)
Signed,
Anonymous
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