"Is this the only thing that this man knows how to do?" Torna asked curiously, because every morning he passed along the road to Tse-Abi, their popular village market, on his way to nursery school. He always saw the old but good-looking man chanting, kneeling, standing, and gesticulating.

This was why Torna was absent from class that day. He had already told himself, "I must ask this man about what he does here every day, and whether there is anything else he can do except chanting, kneeling, standing, and gesticulating here every morning."

"Hello! Good morning, my good boy. How are you doing today?" Torna wondered why the man could greet him first before approaching him with an extended hand for a handshake. It was then that Torna replied, extending his hand with fear, "But he doesn't look scary." He gathered confidence and responded cheerfully, "Why didn't you go to school today?"

To Torna, this was a very good question that set a platform for a good discussion about what had bothered his mind for several days. He had decided to sacrifice one of his school days to iron it out. "I did not go to school today because I wanted to ask you some questions. I see you here every day saying and doing the same thing every morning. It kept me wondering whether you don't know anything else to do in your life. But before I return from school, I wouldn't see you anymore, that's why I refused to pass. I must ask you these questions today."

The old man looked steadily at Torna and gave a cheerful smile. This was as a result of the reminder of how he was called to the Catholic priesthood. The little boy continued to gaze expectantly to hear him solve his curiosity, but he rather asked him for his name. For it was the custom of Fr. Sam to address people by their names while talking to them. According to him, "It gives them a sense of belonging and a feeling that you embrace them dearly."

"Well, Torna, my name is Fr. Sam. I am a Roman Catholic priest by vocation. What you see me do every morning is what I have been called to do." Out of curiosity the little boy interrupted the answer, "Who called you? These people?" Fr. Sam smiled and drew closer, touching his shoulders. "God has called me. That was why I intentionally did not say 'a priest by profession' but 'by vocation'. Because people choose their professions, but as for vocation, people are rather chosen for it."

It was at this point that Torna's curiosity grew higher with hatred as to why God would decide to be so unfair to Fr. Sam. "So, God hates you so much? Why did He decide that you should be doing the same thing every morning? Can't you do anything else?"

Fr. Sam at this point discovered that he needed a lot of patience to respond to the now aggressive curiosity. He calmly spoke to Torna, explaining his role and the need for such a role in society. "What you see me do every morning is the intercessory role; I pray for everybody in the world."

"But you have prayed enough, na. Will God still be angry if you go to your father's house?" Fr. Sam laughed at this question but explained better what it means to be a priest, as though discussing with an adult. "Torna, we all do sin every day, which means that we must pray daily for forgiveness. But apart from that, I invoke God's blessings every day for all, and in particular for those who ask for it."

At this point, Torna became keen to understand how prayer works, because he had been praying for a bicycle, but his father had refused to buy it, saying he must first go to the farm.

No one could imagine how interesting and heart-enlightening the conversation between Torna and Fr. Sam turned out to be. "So, now that I have met you, it means I will get my bicycle, because you can help me to pray for it or even collect one from God and give me, because He can grant everything you ask Him."

Fr. Sam listened to how eloquently and convincingly the little boy spoke, and he saw the need to explain more. "Torna, you must understand one thing: that the decision of the superior person is always constant, but that of the subject endures certainty only when it conforms with that of the superior. That means that our prayer does not change God's intention, but rather changes our wills to conform with the will of God for us. But when they directly conform with the will of God for us, the positive response becomes immediate.

Moreover, we have so many ways of praying, and we are not limited to one. The person who is working on the farm is praying to God to give him food or some other good. That is why he must wait."

Torna voiced out again, "Hmm... so, if you pray for something you must wait?"

"Exactly, because you hope for what you have never seen before. Anyone who works hopes, and anyone who hopes is already praying."

This point sounded so convincing that Torna's cup of curiosity got drained. He calmly responded, "Father, you have taught me to understand that what Daddy and Mummy do on the farm every day is just prayer?"

At this point, Fr. Sam was flabbergasted at the little boy's sagacity. He then concurred that his parents plant indeed, but God determines what happens underneath and what comes as produce. "Then, I will follow Daddy and Mummy to the farm tomorrow."

As events took their turns, Torna's cup of curiosity turned to a cup of interest. He looked at how attractive Fr. Sam appeared in his newly sewn alb and a pair of jet-black trousers with finely fitted black shoes, and gently said, "Father, I want to be like you."

Fr. Sam, putting his hand in his prayer book bag, handed him a white-coloured rosary and saw how Torna's joy was filled. Torna reported to his parents and all his friends the news of a new friend he had found. This became the starting point of the little Torna's journey, and he became Fr. James several years later.

More Stories You May Like

More from SHISHI SOLOMON