Example of Feeling Protestant

I've told a few people (including our Jesuit chaplain Jack, whoops) that being at Romero House has made me realize how Protestant I am... and furthermore how much I appreciate my Presbyterian (and *gasp of all gasps* evangelical) roots. For the litany of reasons, I would need another post, but the following event happened a few days ago, and it was the perfect example of how sometimes I get so confused because I don't get the signals, or don't understand whats going on, or what I'm supposed to do, because I'm SO not Catholic. It also demonstrates how I think that the ceremonies and traditions are more fluid than a strict liturgical calendar would let them be. (In fairness, I really appreciate a lot of things that I've learned about Catholic traditions and worldview and commitment to social justice, yet another unwritten post...)

On the Thursday before Good Friday, all the interns gathered for a special "Maundy Thursday" supper. We were apparently recreating the last supper, with unleavened naan and red wine... and chicken and red beets. Before we ate, however, we gathered in the intern common room for a washing of feet. Before the actual washing of feet, our director read a rather long reflection on this painting by Sieger Koder (but I didn't have my glasses, so I couldn't actually focus on the painting at all... )
Then she removed one shoe and sock, and our founder quietly poured water over her one foot and then wiped it off with a towel. Our director then washed/splashed one foot of the guy sitting next to her, who then splashed and wiped the foot of a girl who then solemnly splashed and wiped my foot. I continued the pattern, and on it went. (may i point out at no point in time were there any verbal instructions on what we were supposed to do)

Afterwards, I asked the intern next to me (who grew up Catholic, but no longer affiliates herself with that) "...so... is the one foot thing being considerate because I have a cast on one of my feet? or is it a catholic thing? or like for efficiency or something?"
she thought for a bit. "umm I don't know... i think the only other time I had my feet washed, it was only one foot too. it must be a Catholic thing, but I would ask MJ to be sure"

So over dinner, we ask our Indian intern about what its like in Kerala. He explains that the priest washes the feet of twelve selected members of the parish and then kisses them, and other traditions to which the Catholic members of our group nod and smile.

Coming from the most "evangelical" or perhaps being the most vocally noncatholic background,  our director asked me, "have you ever had your feet washed before". and I said "yeah, definitely, at like camps, or service retreats, but never in connection with the last supper", which I don't think was the expected answer.

and that right there kind of summarizes why I like coming from a tradition that is not so strictly traditionalist. We don't read the same thing on the same day every three years. We don't have (as many) specific rituals attached to specific days. We do things that feel right, that have a biblical base, when it makes sense for the context. My favorite memory of foot washing happened at a camp. After a long day of hiking towards the end of a week at camp, each cabin found a private location and the leader (me) started washing one of the girls feet. The other girls stood around her and gave positive examples of the girl who was being washed having been a servant leader throughout the week. The girl with two clean feet then washed the feet of the next girl. To me, that more wholly represents what John 13 says what Jesus wanted his disciples to do than a ritual where water is symbolically poured and no ones foot is actually cleaned.

sidenote- i feel the same way about communion/eucharist: bread and wine were what was on the table, what was common when eating, not some sacred substance [although there are special foods for passover, i know. but we all do communion/eucharist monthly or weekly anyways, so we're already breaking from the direct text.... ] It didn't have to be led or blessed by some ordained person. i think what jesus was saying was, when you eat together in community, think of me. i am there too....
Hence, i've had communion with a limited number of skittles shared gracefully, and also with tortillas and cranberry juice. neither time was anyone ordained saying any fancy words. but i'll attest and those kids did too, that the holy spirit was there in the middle of that. even with the closest priest miles away.

PS: After dinner, I asked our director about the one-foot thing, and she laughed and told me that it was simply out of consideration of me only having one foot available. which is sweet. but then i asked another intern, and he said that he's seen both.
so i still don't get it....