discernment

September 28, 2008

A Time to Plant and A Time to Grow

Redwing blackbird sings near Benedictine Sisters' pond at St. Mary Monastery, Rock Island, Ill.

Every day I take my morning cup of coffee and stand by the garden I tend.  I admire the creation of color, the foliage, and even how the weeds blossom.  I reflect on the places I have been planted in my life. I consider the weeds I continually have to pull to promote growth and beauty.

Discernment is a growing season. It is good to reflect on the places you have been planted, the colors of your personality, the gifts that have emerged, the experiences that have tilled your soil and uprooted your life, and the weeds you have pulled.

It is good to reflect on what promotes your growth.

Discernment is a gracefilled movement – reflecting on your life and embracing a future life where your garden can thrive. Smell the flowers, enjoy the color and be energized by the power of God. Then think of how your next garden may need to be planted in order to continue this gift of God’s presence.

September 20, 2008

Peace I Leave You

Benedictine Sisters' St. Mary Monastery, Rock Island, Illinois

For over 20 year Be Not Afraid has been a popular song in funeral liturgies and at retreats. It expresses our human longing to be at peace even in the midst of extraordinary tension and uncomfortable experiences.

We use a similar Taize chant at the Monastery with the simple phrase, “Peace I leave you, Peace I give you, Be not afraid.” I find it a wonderful prayer and very engaging chant. In fact, we used it in today’s liturgy. Continue Reading

September 14, 2008

Worthiness for Christ

The Thomas Merton prayer is a great discernment prayer (posted by Stefanie in a comment to “Creating Space for God” on Sept. 4). It reminds us that today is the day to care about. Today is the day we are worthy of Christ’s love. Today is the day we must trust the Lord to lead our way. The prayer also reminds us that we can have doubts along the way. Continue Reading

August 28, 2008

Silence

“Silence is that place just before the voice of God.  It is the void in which God and I meet in the center of my soul.” (Illuminated life:  Monastic Wisdom for Seekers of Light, Joan Chittister, OSB)

Silence is critical to discernment, and during all times that we hope to hear God speak. For my part, I have to work to quiet the noise, bury the distractions, open my heart and stretch my listening to really hear.

The God I experience is the Grace of my life.

Often silence is seen as eerie or uncomfortable or produces impatience.  For many of us it is our ‘shadow’ side, as we are not raised to welcome silence – nor does the world embrace silence.  I – and maybe you too – have had to nourish a hunger for silence.  Once found, however, it is precious.

Silence is partly a matter of appreciating life’s clamor while being able to set it aside for a greater sound.  I have always found inspiration in music, books and nature.  However, inspiration comes through quiet, silence and a deafening depth where God speaks most clearly.

Whatever path you are on – most especially if you are grappling with a religious vocation – requires enough quiet and silence to let God break through your noise, distractions and self-centeredness.  God is profoundly with us in all aspects of life, yet silence allows that unique communication with God that leads us to find some clarity of God’s love and Grace.  That quiet allows our God to surface and rise inside.

In your discernment, allow for quiet and silence and see where it leads you. Treasure the quiet, silent times when the voice of God comes through your heart. It might take time to get used to it, so be patient.  God is working through you to emerge stronger and more present in your life.

August 26, 2008

Stay Connected!!

I am still having computer glitches, so I have another laptop with me in Dubuque, Iowa for a meeting. I have had trouble staying connected, however, and being unconnected is not a pretty “site”! It is essential to stay connected – yes, via the web, but more important, by any means.

Discernment is about recognizing connections and maintaining relationships to discover more about your hopes and dreams.  You must stay connected to God through prayer, of course, but it’s also important to stay connected with a particular community, vocation director or community member.  Nancy makes that point quite well in her reply a couple of days ago.

Nancy had connected with several communities and that made the difference in her discernment.  She and I kept up conversation, sharing and arranging visits – all helpful in her discernment.  While God leads us in the right direction, we need to take hold of the opportunity God lays before us. Nancy is just one example of connectedness as a vital and essential tool in discernment.

Staying connected with women who are in discernment is vital to me.  I hope I can be a conduit for God’s presence in your discernment.

Today – reflect on your connectedness. How is it with God these days?  What is God saying through your connection? How is it with your discernment and  who might you need to connect with? Go for it … and stay connected!!

August 23, 2008

Prayerful Rest of "Computer Minds"

This week was most frustrating with my laptop.  Basically, the hard drive is full and can’t handle any more information.  When that happens it leads to a very lethargic computer that doesn’t process many commands, including Save, Print, etc.  In the midst of my very busy week it  was not helpful!

This week I received an email from a woman who has been on our inquirer list for over a year.  She receives our monthly STEPS email.  After our August email she decided it was time to contact me.  She has been thinking about religious life and was full of information and decided it was time to take a further step.

Isn’t it true that we can only retain so much information before our minds begin to get unfocused, overwhelmed and maybe even shut down?  When that happens to me it means I must sit down and compile all my information into a to do list or make notes.  Okay, it often results in a long nap too! I simply have to organize the information to make it manageable and address the essentials.  Take a deep breath and reassure myself I can only do so much in a day.

The point being we get to a place where we are over-saturated and need to clear out some files, pursue some ‘to do’ item or rest and let God bring to the foreground what our next step is.

Discernment is no different.  An important aspect is to gather information and experiences about the choices you are considering.  There is a point when we get enough, though; something we just seem to know at the time.  Then it is time to let God work in us through prayer and attention to God.  There is a time to organize our information, narrow some choices and maybe write a ‘pro and con’ list.  Often, a decision to explore a particular community surfaces.

Basically, we all have computer minds.  Even the smartest laptop needs to rest and reset. Let prayerful rest guide our decisions, and let God filter through our experiences.  Let’s Save, Delete, and Print under God’s guidance.

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August 22, 2008

God's Promise

Thursday’s Scripture at Eucharist comes straight from the Prophet Ezechiel. It was my favorite passage from him.

Ezechiel writes about new life using the image of dead bones rising with new flesh, new energy and new purpose. He is speaking to the Israelites who have been beaten down into Exile. Ezechiel speaks for the Lord and proclaims a new life is coming to God’s People.

It is all about God’s Promise as proclaimed through Ezechiel: “I will give you a new heart, a new spirit.”

Isn’t it a great Promise to us? God brings new life, new skin on old bones, new energy and a new Spirit. It takes looking with eyes of faith to see the positive in life and the upside of the challenges life brings. That is the crux of faith – to believe in a new Spirit and a new Life – even when the challenges may be overwhelming.

Discernment is about seeing with God how your life is unfolding. When reflecting, praying and pondering on a new energy – like joining a religious community – The Promise is with you.

Discernment is about believing in The Promise clearly presented by Ezechiel. Following God’s Path will “grant you a new spirit, a new life.” The Promise comes around repeatedly in life when we are centered on God and on following God’s lead.

Talk about energy – the Olympics are incredible in energy. What we can do with our bodies, with discipline, with such an intense focus on a goal – that is a sample of God’s creative power exploding.

How focused are you on The Promise?

August 12, 2008

A New Calling

God’s Calling is a fabulous experience.  I am learning that God doesn’t just ring once!  When we accept a foundational call to Baptism, many options become alive in our life.  Many choices must be made as we live out our Baptism.   Then a second call comes alive when we choose the path we will pursue God along: married life, religious life, priesthood, single life, etc.  That is huge, of course, and requires many a prayer and reflection.

Actually, there may be many calls from God.  These may consist of call to raise a family, take a particular job, get more involved in Church, face a difficult challenge and others.  Our foundation is in Baptism and our vocation is how we live out our fundamental call of Baptism.

I have been writing this blog for nearly 2 years and today we were able to kick it up to its own page.  It is very exciting and i am looking forward to this new side of my ministry as vocation director.  My purpose is to be with women who are discerning their call to religious life.  Many, many questions arise in such a journey and I welcome them.  Many, many prayers are needed during discernment and I will say mine for you.  Many, many thoughts surface in such a serious time and I welcome you to share them.  August 2, 1982, was my Final Monastic Profession and so I have many rich years of experiences I am thrilled to share with you.  Just ask, just write and just know God is leading the Way. �