Me to We - Part 3

I am sorry for the length of this final story from Me to We, but it is my very favorite and I hope that you get tears in your eyes/that lump in your throat feeling that I got the first time I read it!

“One of our most memorable encounters with the power of faith occurred during an unforgettable school-building trip to Nicaragua. As we set to work in a remote region of this small Central American country, we began to hear whispered stories from locals of a benevolent secret society. We learned that its members were tireless advocates of the poor and disenfranchised, dedicated to working on their behalf. While their exploits were the stuff of legend, their identities were shrouded in mystery: the word was that they could be recognized only by a plain black ring worn on the left forefinger.

Was this a troop of modern-day Robin Hoods? Of course, we were intrigued. Try as we might, we never saw that telltale ring, so we spoke with someone who knew where to locate one of the members of this secret society and we set up a meeting. Our high expectations weren’t disappointed.

An eloquent speaker of at least five languages, Father Carlos, a Catholic priest, remains to this day one of the most interesting individuals we have ever had the pleasure to meet. Originally from Brazil, he was groomed for leadership in the Church at a very young age. After completing his education at the Vatican, he returned to his native country to assume an important role in the church hierarchy. However, when we saw that the church’s extensive landholdings could be better used to help the poor, he rallied supporters and organized a group to take possession of the unused lands in accordance with Brazilian law.

Instead of elevating their native son to the position of power for which he had been groomed, his superiors promptly shipped him and his group of renegade priests to Nicaragua, then the site of a fierce civil war between the Sandinistas and the contras. It would have been difficult to find a more violent place. Although this posting had been intended as a punishment, it was, in fact, a blessing for Father Carlos and his followers. It gave them the opportunity to do what their faith had compelled them to do in Brazil: serve the poor.

The priests soon entered communities to offer medical training, education, and religious support. They declared that their side was with the poor, no matter who controlled their village. Unfortunately, this position was highly unpopular with both warring factions. As Father Carlos explained it, the contras believed his group supported the Sandinistas, and the Sandinistas believed they supported the contras. The priests quickly became targets of violence.

With the traditional black robe and simple white collar now the subject of unwelcome attention, Father Carlos decided that he and his followers needed to adopt a new habit. They shed their usual clothing and began to dress as peasants. Now their only distinguishing feature was a simple ring carved from a black Brazilian rain forest nut, worn as a symbol of their marriage to the poor. Today, anyone wearing this ring is said to continue their mission of service to the poor. According to tradition, the rings cannot be bought, only given.

Our initial meeting with Father Carlos was to be the beginning of a deep and lasting friendship. With his extensive knowledge of the area, he and a number of other priests guided us throughout our work in Nicaragua. Spending time with this extraordinary man, we gained tremendous respect for his work as well as for his faith. He and his followers found themselves at odds with their church, yet they remained committed to their religious beliefs, expressing their devotion by serving the poor.

When it finally came time for us to leave the country, we were treated to a humbling surprise. Taking a small wooden box out of the drawer of his desk, Father Carlos opened it to reveal a bundle of purple cloth. Slowly and carefully, he removed two black rings and placed them in our hands. Honored and somewhat embarrassed, we tried them on; they fit perfectly. We hoped we would be able to prove ourselves worthy of such a generous gift.”