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Steps Vocation Newsletter
November 2013

A sign from God?
Thoughts from Sister Stefanie

We all want a sign from God ... and some people get one. Moses, for example. Never me, though. That would be far too easy.

I thought about this again last Saturday as I read a wonderful reflection by C. Vanessa White in "Give us this Day" (a monthly magazine of daily prayer and reflections by Liturgical Press. I read the print version, but there is an e-version for those of you with IPads and Kindles.) 
 
She wrote, "These days, we expect immediate gratification ... A quick fix is often not a fix at all."

Oh boy, does that ring true for me. I'm more patient than I used to be, but still have to work on it every day.

In fact my patience has grown a lot in religious life. For one thing, I had to learn - back when I was discerning - that this kind of decision is not going to happen quickly.

No matter how much I wanted a burning bush, nothing like that happened for me.

I had to slow down, take time in prayer, clear my head and work on my relationship with God.

How? I turned to my closest friends for guidance. I went to a wonderful spiritual director. I spent time - silent, unhurried time - with God.

This is my advice to you. Slow down. Take time with God. Find a spiritual director. (We have 3 wonderful Sisters who do this!) And share with the people who know you best. See how they react.

The answer will come, probably slower than you want it to. But it will come, perhaps in the form of a nagging thought or feeling that you can't seem to shake.

And who knows? Maybe you'll be the one to see that burning bush. God can do anything, after all! :)

For more vocation thoughts, check out our Monastery Wisdom blog. And if you want to chat about any of this, give me a holler at [email protected]. I look forward to helping any way I can!!  

Join us for a weekend!
New members of Benedictine Sisters of St Mary Monastery in Quad Cities
Try out life as a Benedictine and find out for yourself whether the life is for you!

Visit during an upcoming Benedictine Experience Weekend Nov. 15-17, 2013; Feb. 28-March 2, 2014; April 25-27, 2014; May 16-18, 2014!

You'll pray, dine, and enjoy leisure time with us. You'll learn about our life. You'll stroll the grounds and have time for silent reflection.

It's a great chance to try out Benedictine monastic life for a limited amount of time, no strings attached.  

Reply to this email for more information ... and visit our website! We look forward to meeting you!!


Benedictine Sisters of St. Mary Monastery sing