It Began with a Retreat

A few years ago I attended a 3-day women’s retreat.

It.

Was.

Awesome.

During that restful weekend we were given the opportunity to spend 15 minutes with one of the leaders (priests and a religious sister) for spiritual direction or Confession.  I had a regular confessor and didn’t want to take an opportunity away from someone else; my time would be spent in silence before the Blessed Sacrament.

About an hour before the blocked off time for spiritual direction time ended, something prompted me to sign up.  When I looked at the sheet, there were no open time slots.

No biggie.  Back to resting with the Lord I went.

About a half hour later, the religious sister who was offering direction came into the room and asked if anyone else would like to meet; she had ended with her sign-ups early.

I started to get up when I saw another gal jump at the chance; she followed sister into the little office.

This time instead of sitting back down, the Holy Spirit gave me a push and I waited outside their door.

When she finished up, sister came out of the room with her materials to head back to the main hall.  She was ready to lead the next part of he retreat.

I must have appeared a pitiful sight.  She looked at me with loving eyes and said she would make time for me.

Never having been to spiritual direction, I wasn’t sure what to expect. The Holy Spirit gave me another nudge and I went with her.

Those next 15 minutes would jumpstart my journey with the Lord.

I cannot remember what we talked about, but there was a freedom to share that I had not experienced before. The Holy Spirit somehow opened my heart.  God gave me courage to speak of wounds and brokenness that I didn’t know I had.

Sister and I would continue to meet monthly for the next 5 or 6 years. She was a spiritual powerhouse. Called a ‘spade a spade’. She had a way of encouraging me to talk about things that were hidden deep in my soul.  Sister helped me confront sin, prayed through healing, and walked with me through very difficult career transitions.

Although she is no longer my spiritual director, it was her example that put me on the path to discerning the call to walk with other women as she did with me.

With all of this on my own heart, and understanding my own brokenness and this beautiful journey of faith, I took the 2020 COVID lock-down time to do something about it.

After much prayer and discernment, God uncovered a path previously unseen; He gave me the courage to pivot from the ministry that I knew and was very comfortable in to something new to go along with this new stage in life.

Once I said ‘yes’, the doors flew opened and any doubt I had disappeared.

It is a joy to submit to God’s will!

My heart longs to walk in faith with others, to share in their highs and lows, to help them see where and how God is working in their life; help others learn to pray and listen to voice of the Holy Spirit. To journey with women who are searching for real love, identity, and meaning.

Women who aren’t perfect but looking for healing.

Women with a with a past, longing for a better future.

Women who feel as if they were created for more but unsure where God is calling.

I believe most of us can identify with some of these statements to a degree. If this is you and you’d like someone to walk with in faith as a daughter of the Most High, please drop me a line.

It’s so much easier to journey with another.  It’s not a mystery, God designed us this way.

Pray for me as I pray for you!