Traveling

The next few days are going to be filled with last minute preparations for my trip and with the journey itself. My mind is abuzz with details, details. Already there have been some surprises and complications to contend with. Everyone says to me 'aren't you just so excited?' The answer is yes, of course, but that excitement is overlaid right now with the logistics of closing up my house and putting my business affairs in order for an extended length of time as well as the details of traveling with Lucie, renting cars, figuring out how to get from the airport in Paris to Laury's house. Throw in a France-wide strike on September 23rd and maybe you can understand why my excitement isn't bubbling to the surface right now. I predict that I won't truly feel it until I'm standing with Lucie in Laury's living room! Until my arrival in France, Dona Nobis Pacem will be on hold. Come back after September 24th for the 'rest of the story.'

Listen

In the cool, dark pre-dawn, I sit at my table and listen to the fog and last night's rain condense into droplets that splat against the leaves of the big oak tree outside the open door. Crickets churr shrilly, a last chorus before sunrise. Close by in the creek bottoms, I hear the hoot of a sleepy owl...once, twice...four times. I'm reminded to be still, to be silent, to listen and hear God's silent prayer. A cow bellows; a crow caws for its friend. In the distance I hear a car wind up through its gears headed for work. Under it all, God's voice is there. Even through the world's daily business, it can be heard if I stop and get quiet, if I go inside and listen with my heart open. In the midst of crossing things off my 'to do' list, working through the final preparations for my trip, and worrying about things both in my control and beyond it, God reminds me that if I'll stop, be still and listen, I can hear his magnificence in the splat of a rain drop, the soft hoot of a sleepy owl, in his caw and his bellow. Listen! 

Trust

There's a line in a prayer attributed to Mother Teresa that says:

  "May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be."

How easy that is to do and how hard! It's easy now; I'm in the midst of a great adventure, excited and full of anticipation for the future. How hard that was just six months ago as I sat here feeling stuck, forgotten and unheard by God. What happened between there and here? Lots of prayer, lots of perseverance, and lots of trust. I wasn't always successful in maintaining the tranquility of mind that I was exactly where God wanted me. I did my share of whining...both to God and to others. I admit I got tired of trusting. I wanted a sign, some action, something to let me know that God was working on my dreams or if not, then what His plan for me was. It all happened, but in God's time, not mine. Pray, persevere, and trust.

Rule of Life

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in us the fire of your love.

Piety...

    Holy

    Faithful

    Love

Study...

    Spirit

    Hearts

    Fire

Action...

     Come

      Fill

      Kindle