Carmelite

When I was a girl I watched Sister Act.  Loved that movie.  The combination of a sort of redemptive Cinderella Story, the music, and the Catholicism grasped my attention.  I could indulge in my Catholic curiosity and minute participation in movies like Sister Act and Sound of Music.  (I think a part of me was a little sad that I was cast as Brigitta in The Sound of Music rather than a nun).

Anyhow, in Sister Act, when Whoopi's character is abducted and the other nuns go looking for her, one of the nuns is describing her to a bystander.  She uses the term "Carmelite."  I remember the first time I heard that I thought they were trying to racially describe her "carmel," Whoopi's dark skin tone.  I was shocked!  Why would a nun say that!  Later, I learned a tiny bit more about Carmelite nuns...basically, that they were very strict and shaved their heads.  So, I put the Carmelite idea aside.

But why did that stand out to me?

Years later, I was surfing blogs and found one written by a Catholic convert who was a Carmelite.  I was immediately intrigued.  But at the time I was very much in line with the AG church in that Catholicism was out of the question and these such followings were not in line with Christ...too steeped in works, paganism, or superstition.  Still, that word, "Carmelite" stuck.

A few weeks ago I watched Journey Home and Marcus Grodi's guest was a revert who was a lay Carmelite.  Immediately, I had to research what that meant.  It was like someone laid out a worship lifestyle (for lack of a better term) for quiet, introverted, introspective, contemplative, meditative, simple me.  It appealed on so many levels.

If I were to ever become Catholic, I would consider joining the Carmelites as a lay person.