God’s Will

Its funny how our day can run in themes.  Today I have had several conversations that have basically all been around the idea of asking what is God’s will in their lives.  One friend called to talk to me about a “promotion.”  Now this could be a good thing because it means a significant increase in finances and a greater job security which in these economic times is a great thing.  But as a single dad of teenagers to take this promotion would also mean more time away from home and less free time.  Let me repeat the significant elements — teenagers and less time at home.  Now for those of us with teenagers our immediate thoughts are — its a win/win situation — more money/less teenagers.  But for those of us with sense we also realize that being home more during these teenage troubles is exceptionally important.  What to do?  Another individual came into my office to discuss the possibility of a vocation to the religious life.  She is presently attending a Catholic College and has been greatly influenced by some of her professors and feels drawn toward the life of prayer that she has experienced there.  But she struggles because she has always imagined herself as a mother and at present is studying medicine with the hopes to dedicate herself to pediatric medicine.  And then later I got into another conversation about being called into a single life which he believes he has been lead by God to.  See what I mean about a theme to my day, and as my court date looms very close to finalize my own divorce I find myself reflecting back and wondering did I get it all wrong some 22 years ago when I believed God had brought this man into my life.  How do we know God’s will?

If I had the answer to that I am sure I would be rich in a matter of days.  Say this novena… recite these prayers… throw these holy cards and God’s will is certain to be made known.  Those of us who have struggled to make dicisions based less on our wants and everything on what we believe to be God’s will know that an obvious road sign is rare.  Remember the prophet Elijah?  There was a time in which he called to hear the voice of God:

The LORD said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by.”  Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake.  After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.  When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.     1 Kings 19:11-13

Elijah pulled his cloak over his face because he heard God not in the earthquake or fire but in the gentle whisper.  We must all look and listen for those whispers in our own hearts.  And we must get it out of our heads that there is one perfect path.  How can we who are fallen creatures ever do anything perfectly?  We can’t and God knows that.  Yes, there are some right choices and some obvious wrong choices.  Life good — suicide bad.  But mostly its whispers of possibilities.  Yes having more money for my one friend would be great if it leads to opportunities that allow him to grow in his own faith and family life.  But what if it feeds into his fallen nature of greed and power?  How about the young lady discerning a call to religious vows?  She can have children in both worlds — one as a pediatrician nun and the other as a mom but either life could give her reasons to hide emotionally.

It is not one call to God’s will.  In my opinion it is getting up every morning and in prayer re-assessing ourselves then asking God how best can I serve you in this day?  How can I best become all you want me to be Lord?  And we listen.  As we dive into our day we make decisions and we listen.  And as we end our day we assess what we did and who we became and we listen.  Not to our weaknesses and wants but for the whisper of God.  And with those really big decisions we pray, we talk to those we trust to guide us on right paths but we decide and we listen to God, in scripture, in sacrament, in prayer.  We hear often that when God closes a door he opens a window but if we sit down refusing to move until God tells us what to do how will we ever know that just over there is an open door?   I remain, your servant in Christ,

Theresa