#vocation

My latest video is on ‘Pride & Joy’ a great IPA from Vocation brewery. Not only does the beer taste good but for every can sold with the Pride branding the brewery made a donation to LGBT charities! 

There can’t be much better than drinking beer for a good cause? Check it out! 

On uncertainty and things that may cause problems and my constant strive not to be worried

This is a text in defense of EU migration to the UK I wrote when I still had hope, on the last day before the referendum day: I think there are some misconceptions around EU migration to the UK that I feel I should counter. TL;DR: how the EU migrants are not so bad as some people would like everybody to believe. There is no narrative from the other perspective, I am afraid. But I am brave and I…

View On WordPress

lifeinacatholicgirlshoes:

Have you ever thought of this questions? Have you ever wondered what would happen if there were no worms? 

They don’t seem like important creatures because they are hidden from day to day life, only coming out of the ground after a storm or when the ground is broken up and plowed. The worms fertilize the soil. They burrow down in order for some movement of soil to be made. They are needed. Charles Darwin stated, “It may be doubted whether there are many other animals which have played so important a part in the history of the world, as have these lowly organized creatures.”

Compare this with the life of a cloistered monk or nun. They are hidden from the world but provide nourishment for the Church in prayer and quiet life. In times of great turmoil, they have been the rock and foundation for communities that they are in. St. Therese of Liesure offered every little thing for God and this hidden life became one of the greatest missionaries of the 20th century yet she never left her cloister after she entered. 

I wish to be hidden and offer everything to Christ. This is what I wish with my life. Anybody who is discerning their vocation out there, don’t give up. Be quiet and let God speak. If you feel like you are just waiting around offer it up! Make every moment God’s moment. 

bonaememoriae:

So I talked with Sr.Faustina of the Sisters of Life last night and she was so helpful and sweet and full of joy. She offered me this awesome insight: because I am so new to the Faith, it is better for me to continue to work to give my whole life to Christ before trying to discern a call to religious life. Right now it is natural that, by His grace, I would want to die to my old life and give this new life to Him. But this doesn’t mean that I am necessarily called to be a sister. Jesus is meeting me where I am, and this openness to God’s will is a grace that I need to embrace in order to glorify him in all that I do. It was so nice to have this reassurance that He is guiding me and it’s okay to take things one step at a time. She encouraged me to take a few years and then revisit this call if I’m still discerning it may be for me. I’m so happy I had the opportunity to talk with her. Soli Deo Gloria :)

I’m so proud of you! You have such a mature understanding and acceptance of vocation, which I think is often underappreciated.

I was in the same boat as you - in fact I was thinking about the priesthood before I had even finished RCIA - so I understand the excitement. I know the wait will drag on at times. But I also know it will be so much more fulfilling knowing that wherever we end up is truly where we are meant to be. There will be no wondering, no cursing our hasty decision, just pure peace and joy in the Lord.

May God bless you on your journey, bonaememoriae. Keep in touch. <3

The following is a guest post, written by my dear friend Anamaria Scaperlanda Biddick, in response to my post on guarding your heart vs. paying attention to reality. Anamaria is a freelance writer from Oklahoma who recently celebrated her one year wedding anniversary with her wonderful husband Travis. She is one of my most trusted advisors when it comes to relationships. I hope you glean as much from her wisdom as I have! 

Picture this: you meet a handsome guy at a party filled with mutual friends; he just moved back to town after some years away, lured by both a job and the desire to be near his nieces and nephews as they grow up.  He’s interesting and funny; after spending the evening talking, he asks if you want to get coffee sometime.  You agree, give him your number, and the next day he calls to set up a time.  A few days later, you meet for coffee.  He pays for your latte and the hours fly by as you talk.

Reactions tend to fall into one of two categories: either immediate thoughts of everlasting love or telling yourself he just wants to be friends.  Guarding your heart may aid against the former temptation—though, as Christina points out, so will paying attention to reality and keeping it in perspective—but it will only exacerbate the second, no less present danger.

After years of strictly platonic interest in me on the part of many different men, it was to this latter temptation that I was inclined by the time I met my husband.  Truth be told, I had at least one conversation with my sister in which I expressed my doubt that he had romantic interest, despite a growing number of events which clearly indicated the contrary.  I had grown suspicious of the possibility of romance.  In spite of this, thanks to the grace of God and the charism of the eccelesial lay movement Communion and Liberation, I was able to stay rooted in the reality of our blossoming romance—which enabled our relationship to grow. 

If I had guarded my heart, withholding affection proper to the relationship as it was, the relationship would have stunted. A relationship can’t grow and develop if one person is holding herself aloof from it, not engaging emotionally. 

Budding romances are precarious things.  A woman who withholds warmth and affection from a man who is interested in her will hinder the natural growth of the relationship (an aside: this is also true if you’re not interested in someone which, in that scenario, is a good thing).  Men notice if their woman of interest is sitting close to them, laughing at their jokes, and eager to accept an invitation.  Conversely, a man will notice (with discouragement) if the woman seems oblivious to him, doesn’t laugh at his jokes, or declines his invitations.

While not giving your heart away to a guy you just met is a good thing, keeping yourself emotionally aloof while you get to know him is not. 

What about you? Have you ever tried to convince yourself that a guy didn’t like you in order to protect yourself? I’m especially curious about the experience of my married readers. :)