As the deer longs for streams of water, so my soul longs for you, O God.

My being thirsts for God, the living God. When can I go and see the face of God?

Psalm 42: 2-3

Reading through my last blog, I realize that it almost seemed like I was teaching a class on a topic instead of sharing what's going on with me. Sorry about that! Sometimes I just get carried away. So, if you didn't read all of the last post, I'm sure you're not alone! *smile*

This past weekend I had the great blessing of helping out with our vocations discernment retreat. It was a joint venture between the Marianist Brothers (the "SM") and the Marianist Sisters ("FMI"). It was a good weekend. I had a chance to have some really good conversations with 2 young women who are exploring different congregations trying to figure out which would be the best fit for their growth in God. That's exciting to me! We also had 5 men - one who will more than likely join the SM in the fall and 4 who are just trying to figure out where God might be leading them. What a great weekend.

This coming weekend, as I mentioned in my last post, we have our province assembly and chapter meetings. I'm excited to see how things go and what decisions are made. As soon as I am able, I will share with you some of the goings-on. It's all very interesting to me...

On a personal note...

Today, as our community was praying in our chapel with Psalm 42, I was overcome with a sense of "Yes... that's where I am right now." My soul is thirsting... yearning, really. I'm not sure when I allowed myself to let go of being able to see God in the everyday, ordinary realities of life, but I find that it's more difficult for me in recent years, than in the past. The psalmist goes on and says, "Why are you cast down my soul? Why groan within me? Hope in God. I will praise Him still." Yes, even though I have trouble "seeing" God in the ordinariness, that's still where my hope is - in God. I tell you what, though, typing it is easier than living it...

I suppose sometimes I can get overwhelmed with the craziness of our world... the war, genocide, the AIDS pandemic, the inequity in our educational system...

I once read that a Christian should approach the world with a newspaper in one hand and a Bible in the other... One's response to our world should be guided by our faith... and our hope that yes, God overcomes death... there is always resurrection...

Also, on a different note... my work out partner and closest friend here in town is moving in a few weeks. She starts a new job on March 5th. I'm very happy for her... very sad to see her go. I know, distance doesn't have to be the end of a friendship, but it certainly makes things difficult. But... part of living this life is not being so attached to people or things that I can't do without them. This is going to be a tough thing for me...

Well, I just wanted to type a brief note. I'm going to try to type shorter posts from now on. Again...we'll see if I can do that! *smile*

Many blessings to whoever reads this!
Sr. Nicole