Gathering the Graces...

How do you follow up an awesome celebration of saying “YES!!!!” to God’s ongoing call? Well, the answer is very simple: RETREAT! Ah, yes, blessed time of taking a step back and reflecting on God’s call, what has been and where He is calling me. In short, a long period of “gathering the graces.”   

I was blessed to be on a silent retreat at the Motherhouse of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Baden, Pennsylvania. How true it is that where one is, we all are. I felt very welcomed and at home there.  While there, I had had an opportunity to catch up with my friend, Zita (before silence started, of course), who will be with me in Chicago at the Federation Novitiate.  It was a week of stretching and resting in the love of God who continues to call me forth on this journey.  Now…some of you might ask, “what does one do on retreat?” The short answer is: nothing. Since God does much of the work, we simply need to be open.  There were many opportunities for walking and reflecting outside in the sunshine and relishing God’s love. I had plenty of time for prayer, reading, sitting on a swing, reflecting, listening to music, walking the labyrinth as I let go to make room for what might be, and all good things.  I was blessed that my biggest grace was a massive reminder of God’s gentle, loving, growing, call and that He can walk us through anything. And that is a promise we can all take to the heavenly bank!