Enough for a Lifetime - Far and Near Stories
Amy Wiley is a 38 year old unmarried missionary in China. Her life is shown as bleak though spiritually satisfying for herself. She lacks companionship and experiences loneliness. Part of the reason is the sternness of her superior in the house where they stay, a kind of monastery. And a lot is also because of the strictness of her mission and the assumption that a monastic life is about no contact with the outside world ( something as a practising Christian I vehemently oppose because a life submitted to God can also have beauty through his grace )
Very soon Amy gets a chance to play in the theatre of a local stage. The role is of the poet Elizabeth Browning. Taken out from her strict and desolate lifestyle like a fish out of water, she initially fumbles and gasps for breath. But very soon she embraces the atmosphere of role play and loves the world of busy artists.
She falls in love with the actor who is paired opposite her. Although he doesn’t reciprocate her love because he is engaged to some other woman, Amy does not fall into depression. This surprising turn of events is what constitutes the pleasant twist in the story. The change of scene for her from her monastic life, the chance to see and meet people from a different profession and the ability to realise her talents through an occupation renews a sense of purpose in her. She goes back to the monastery , now happy and with vigor.
I feel the story is inspirational because it teaches not only to the less educated and informed common public about nuns and missionaries and their lives, but also shows that not all religious people are sad, angry and frustrated, as often shown in the media and stereotyped by the movies.
The portrayal of a change in atmosphere and occupation for Amy is an important aspect in the story as it is a source of encouragement to those who cannot bring a change in their lives by themselves.
Image - Maria Jane Dyer Taylor , a popular missionary in China in 1866
Courtesy - Womenofeverycomplexion
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