A Moment of Inspiration

This afternoon I made the acquaintance of one of the custodians here.  I didn't know who he was, but I'd seen him around the chapel occasionally, and he didn't seem to be a student, and no one ever seemed to note his presence as out of the ordinary.  So when he walked out a doorway and on to the path I was walking along, I slowed down and introduced myself.

I like to pray Vespers with you guys, he informed me, a few minutes into the conversation.  It's important, you know?  He went on to tell me about how he used to work at a cemetery, because burying the dead is a corporal work of mercy, but now he's here (which is a bit more lively anyway), and it's good, and he likes to pray with us, because it's important.

From what I learned in one conversation, I wouldn't say he's a simple man, but he has a deeply simple spirituality.  He comes to Vespers regularly, just because he can, to pray.  Not because he's canonically bound to it.  Not because he's studying it.  Simply because it's a good prayer.

Why do I go?  Because I'm supposed to go.  Because I'd really ought to be praying the liturgy while I'm studying it.  Because it's beautiful.

Why does he go?  Because it's important, because prayer is important.

I have so much to learn!