By Sister Stefanie MacDonald, OSB

Ugh! I hate change … and I bet you do, too (at least sometimes).

Every time our curriculum or policies or procedures change at school (unless I’m the one suggesting the changes :)), I think, Do I have to?

And every time I am hit with an idea that means I have to change ME, well, I try to get the idea right out of my head.

To illustrate, here’s a story I’ve heard before:

There she was, happy enough with her job, friends, family, parish. Then, before she knew what was happening, someone whispered in her ear: Have you ever thought about becoming a Sister?

Holy cow. Pretty soon, it was all she could hear. Only now, she was pretty sure it wasn’t the choir director, but God, speaking directly to her.

She began asking questions back: What are you asking of me, God? Can’t I just serve on the Advent events planning committee?

The answer is, Maybe! But, you have to listen. You have to pay attention, pray, visit communities, share your thoughts with someone you trust.

What if the answers point toward becoming a Sister? Well, that might mean changing your whole life. For God.

As a woman who finally listened and made the change in my own life, I know I am now serving in the way God asked me to serve. And I am happy with my life.

Call, email, visit me. Share your thoughts.

Sister Stefanie serves as a preschool teacher and as vocation director for the Benedictine Sisters of St. Mary Monastery, Rock Island, Ill. She can be reached at (309) 283-2300 or smacdonald@smmsisters.org.