She was a professor I had several times in graduate school. Since those days, we have stayed in contact and continues to be a good sounding board for me in different areas of life. She challenges me spiritually but always speaks truth and affirmation into my life, especially when I need it most.
Recently we met in her office, drinking mugs of tea while sitting in cozy arm chairs surrounded by artwork on the walls and piles of books on the bookshelves.
I shared what the Lord has been up to in my life, what was going on in my prayer life, the books I was using for spiritual direction, and how I was doing after a fairly recent break-up.
I shared while I had perfect peace in the decision to end that relationship, it still felt scary and a little overwhelming to trust God in the waiting. While there was peace, I still felt a little confused as to where my life had me in the present moment.
This wise, bold woman of God smiled and leaned in saying, "Patty, let me share with you a piece of advice a Jesuit spiritual director shared with me while I was single."
He said, "Pat, you everything you already need to live a beautiful and meaningful life. Be open and just show up to live your life."
Be open.
Just show up.
Live your life.
I cannot tell you how much that advice she shared with me resonated in my heart and soul.
Since our direction appointment almost a month ago, I have kept those words on repeat. There is a strange comfort and peace in repeatedly coming back to them.
I am a divorced, annulled young woman who is currently single.
Nothing in my life has gone as I imagined it growing up. I know I am called to the vocation of marriage and the desires of my heart are for marriage and family. However, right now as life stands, those things are not a part of my story.
That feels frustrating, scary, and sometimes even unfair.
To be perfectly honest, it can be really hard to trust God in the waiting.
How does one do that well, to trust God in the waiting?
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