I'm posting this, not because it is important news, but because it is the end of this particular story (and the beginning of another story that is still unknown).
The Summit Dominicans have posted on their blog that Margaret has now "..... discerned that her vocation isn't to our way of life. We are grateful for her time with us and she remains in our prayers as she continues to do God's will. Please pray for her."
The details aren't in the blog because they don't matter--and in any case, are none of our business. And, certainly our prayers, like those of the Summit Dominicans, are with Margaret.
I think this "story" has a lot to teach those of us who are discerning, and those of us who post here because we love and support discerners.
--God's will is very unexpected, and and yet, our job is to do God's will, whether it makes sense to others (or even to ourselves, sometimes). In fact, the title of the blog article is "Doing God's Will." I'm sure Margaret's decision was a very hard one for her, in part, because this is the kind of situation that other people sometimes don't understand, and even criticize, saying, "Shouldn't she (and the Summit Dominicans) have known?" I for one, give Margaret and the Summit Dominicans the benefit of the doubt and say, "No, there was nothing that anyone "should have known." I choose to believe that there was something (that may or may not yet be known) that God was (and is) teaching by Margaret's relatively short stay as a postulant with the community.
--Another thing this article brought home to me is that--while I personally think live-ins are a very great thing, because they not only let an aspirant better "get to know" a community but also let the community know an aspirant--yet, as helpful as live-ins can be, no one--the aspirant or the community--can know what life in a community is like until they actually enter and live the life.
I don't know Margaret at all. Yet, I wouldn't be surprised if in her time with the community she gave the community gifts that they couldn't have received any other way. And, Margaret has given all of us some gifts, too. For those who are discerning, and those of us whose "job" is to who love those who are discerning, this is another reminder that sometimes the road to where God is calling us has twists and turns as well as surprises--good ones and sad ones and confusing ones and unexpected ones. It also is a yet another reminder that we cannnot judge anyone else's vocation--that is God's job, and his alone. This story may help us in the future--or when thinking about the past--to be kinder to ourselves and to others.
Margaret could have tried to "stick it out" longer in case she was thought by some to have "given up" too soon. But, if she knew God's will, why wait? Sometimes doing God's will means risking the criticisms of others.
Of course, for those of us who have been "counting the beds" in the rapidly filling novitiate of the Summit Dominicans, a place is now opened up for a new aspirant who we pray will go on to celebrate her 75th Jubilee with the community. And, MY first thought was practical not spiritual, that is, "I hope the community has enough hands in the Soap Department to handle all the orders for the busy upcoming Christmas season." LOL
Margaret, thank-you for your courage in "following Christ's star" and for all you have given so far, and all you will give somewhere else in the future. The start of the new year for the Church is a good time to start a new adventure in following God's will.
Our prayers are with you.
The blog of the Summit Dominicans is at www. monialesop.org. Note: The nuns have some new special soaps for Christmas, so be sure to look at them when you visit the blog. (That plug may not sound spiritual, but even nuns have to eat and fix the leaks in the roof over their heads.)
As the song goes--"Every new beginning is another new beginning's end."
Edited by IgnatiusofLoyola, 29 October 2011 - 03:03 PM.
