I'm partly in humor over the extern* situation, for I am not a hermit-of-yore but very much a consecrated Catholic hermit now in the year 2019. God is providing through others what one "extern" would have been to a hermit in the Middle Ages, perhaps, such as the female helper who lived in room beside St. Collette's room which was built adjoining the exterior wall of a cathedral.
The Lord has now provided an older (than me) couple who are parishioners of the Catholic church of which I am a registered member. They had brought me a meal through the parish online, meal sign-up program. They were one of two meal volunteers who told me to let them know if I needed something. I had called the two who had made that type of offer, but neither of the two meal-gifters had responded when I needed meds picked up.
The parish nurse evidently did not know what I meant or my need when I spoke with her on the phone a couple times, for as I've shared previously, she said she'd consult her list of volunteers and get back with me. The person she contacted was a woman who wants part-time work at a hefty hourly rate; the woman had been told by the parish nurse, or else had misconstrued somehow, that I needed far more assistance than I do.
The other day I thought about the woman's offer to work for me again. I'd have to pay her 4/5 of what is my monthly income before taxes. My medical insurance I have to pay out of pocket each month is 1/5 of my monthly income. Regardless, never could I afford that type of hired help. However, I can afford to pay for someone to now and then run an errand for me, or pay a Lyft driver for occasional drop off and another to pick me up from Walmart--when I'm physically able to endure that type of outing with the wait time at the pharmacy.
The couple returned my call unexpectedly; they had been away for quite awhile visiting a family member. Yes, they are most willing to help me in any way needed with errands. I will, of course, pay for gas and time or in whatever way they may want. They likely will refuse payment; but I will send them a gift card of some sort--gas and dining out, perhaps. I won't need any errands for another week or more; I have fresh produce enough for now.
A contemporary hermit has various other options for food and other supplies, however. I'm becoming more familiar with the availability of deliveries to one's abode. I simply had not thought in this direction, previously. Yes, it can cost a bit more, but it also could be less costly than even gifting someone willing to run some errands.
Depending on a hermit's financial status, determining costs of ordering online and paying a delivery fee must be compared to paying (or if they refuse pay, gifting) someone to run an errand. I also factor in the interpersonal factor of someone such as this couple belonging to the parish. There can be great good in the contact with a person or two in which their prayer needs can be ascertained.
As for online ordering, I just read that Walmart is going to begin in a select number of stores to begin with, a home delivery that includes fresh produce, some dairy, and some hardware items. Amazon also offers delivery of perishables. While expensive, these companies are becoming competitive; there are year-memberships available that help reduce costs. As a hermit, I will need to discern God's will as to an occasional interaction with "extern" help or to be more remote from such interpersonal contacts. There will come a time, unless I pass suddenly, in which I will be among people constantly in a health care facility or nursing home. Then, pray God, this hermit will have come to being deeply recollected regardless the surroundings.
(I had a text message yesterday from one of the persons who brought two meals via the parish on-line meal program. In fact, I could have called her to ask if she'd be willing to pick up my meds but decided not as I could tell she and her husband not flush with funds plus she lived a distance away in a separate town. I am sure she would have been willing, but I want to be considerate of others. Her message gave the status of her grandson, 17, who is battling leukemia; the chemotherapy's rare reaction caused the loss of his finger movement and leg mobility. He is a gifted cellist. We are praying for his fingers to regain movement; he is starting up cello lessons with the hope in God to be able to play again! He currently is in remission. I ask your prayers for "Tate" and his family.)
As for my plea and prayer for an "extern" (or a few so as not to burden any one helper), perhaps the Lord wanted me to be open to His seeming ecumenical choosing. God has provided the two young Mormon (Church of Christ of Latter Day Saints) neighbor children who now water the plants and mow the yard on occasion, now that the weather is cooler. He has provided the family member who belongs to Church of the Nazarene, and now He has provided the retired Catholic couple.
For whatever His reasons, God did seem to want me to face that the parish nurse could not quite get the idea of a hermit's "extern" or that of when I emailed her of the idea of a "Christian friend" who could run an errand now and then and be paid a reasonable amount for an errand or might want to be repaid when the hermit is more physically able, with errands or whatever else. In the past with helpers who did not want monetary payment, I've gifted with rather lovely trees, shrubs, perennials; I've paid with practical possessions such as food, homemade liqueur, religious art, books, tools, wood, dishware, manual labor, or in like-kind services of running errands.
This older couple are ideal because they desire to help without being paid employees wanting set time and set hours, and they are not busy with careers or children. This Catholic couple will be a lovely connection for me, a hermit, with the worship and life of priests and parishioners. The couple will also know of prayer needs and intentions of others with whom they interact. I delight in praying for others; and through the national and world news, through such human contacts, a hermit gains access to specific prayer needs.
A hermit, also, gains access to prayer needs through his or her guardian angel, and through those who have gone before us and are in process to and in heaven. In "the silence of solitude," a hermit is able to listen to the voice of God; the Holy Spirit brings to us the souls and situations for which the Lord desires us to pray and do penance. In the silence of solitude, we come to that stillness in which we enter into the "praise of God" as we grow in love of God in Himself.
In my refocusing and delving deeper into what the Church has set forth as the bases and parameters of what a consecrated Catholic hermit (privately or publicly profession of evangelical counsels and avowal), I consider praying for others as part of the "devote [my, his/her] life to the praise of God and the salvation of the world.
God bless His Real Presence in us! Thank you, Most Holy Trinity, for the addition of the Catholic couple to my other Christian, ecumenical externs!
* extern: (in a strictly enclosed order or in Middle Ages, enclosed anchorite or anchoress) a person who does not live exclusively within the enclosure and goes on outside errands.
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