I know a woman who voluntarily disappeared. No! It’s not one of those thousands of names on a “missing person” police list. On the contrary! She disappeared so much that wasn’t reported in any list, not even in her own family genealogy.
She knew that in order to disappear in such a way that she would never be found she needed help. She couldn’t disappear on her own and continue to live. She asked then for the necessary help and ever since was only seen and heard in really important matters. In some occasions, when her presence was vital, she simply disappeared.
Would you have courage enough to disappear like that? To disappear in a way that no one else would remember you even though you were still alive and present? Would you have the courage to ask for an absolutely effective help in order not to be noticed or loved and to run the risk of not being invited, or have a word addressed to you or to be recognized in your qualities?
This woman had the courage! Oh, and she was completely healthy. Healthier than any one of us! She wasn’t depressed or pathologically introverted! On the contrary! She wasn’t isolated from others. She lived for others and perceived their needs with a quickest look.
In fact, humility motivated her. It was the most perfect humility that led her to ask God to disappear, not to be noticed nor complimented or exalted even by the smallest praise.
Of course, today is very hard to understand all of this. We live in times of self-exaltation. A time of over-exhibition, where everyone voluntarily exposes themself or is unknowingly exposed very often on social media. Our mentality exalts image, success, popularity. Everyone wants to be a star. Everyone wants to be praised, seen, admired, complimented, noticed, “followed”, “posted”. We don’t understand how is it possible for this mysterious woman to ask not to be noticed, seen, not to appear in nowadays!
I believe you know who she is, this woman is Miriam, Miriam of Nazareth. St Louis Grignon of Montfort said that she was so perfectly humble that she asked God to disappear. For her, it was enough to be sure of God’s love and to be close to Him and that threw her towards others. God and His will ment everything. She wasn’t that interested in herself!
Emmir Nogueira
Cofounder of Shalom Catholic Community