It's kind of funny. Now that I find myself surrounded by Sisters, both from my own community and from other congregations that we meet at various events, I sometimes forget that most people don't see nuns on a regular basis. Most young people today especially have no experience with Sisters at all. So, when I'm on campus or pretty much anywhere out in public, I've really had to get comfortable with being stared at. A lot. It doesn't really bother me much anymore; in fact, most of the time I find it either very amusing or very humbling.
Being a visible witness is one of the most essential parts of religious life. Canon 537 p. 1 states that those in the consecrated life have been "made an outstanding sign in the Church" to "foretell the heavenly glory." That is the most humbling thing I've ever read. I'm supposed to be foretelling the heavenly glory. Weak, faulty me. Wow. That is a big time examination of conscience.
And yet, when people see me, they don't really see me as an individual (at least, not right away). Anyone's first impression has got to be something along the lines of "Hey! Look! A nun!" That's one of the amazing things about being a Sister, though. I have had so many opportunities to meet people and talk to people and, most importantly, pray for people, just because they can see that I am a Sister. I've been asked for prayers in just about every place you can think of: grocery stores, shopping malls, public parks, restaurants, gas stations, on campus... I could go on. When I stop to think that all of these people are coming to me, not because of *me* but because they know I represent God... Words fail me. The Lord is awesome.
When you think about it though, isn't standing out part of Christian life in general? I mean, the life of the Gospel is not one of quiet submission to worldly standards and ideals. If you give in to the temptation to be like everyone else, to act, think, look a certain way just to fit in, then you're not witnessing to Christ. However, I think that the reverse is also just as true: if you go against the cultural grain just for the sake of being different, you're still missing the point. Christians stand out because the Principle that motivates our lives is radically at odds with the values of our worldly society. We are different, not because we embrace individuality for its own sake, but because we follow Christ instead of following the crowd.
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