Waiting- And The Wonderful Part Of It!

[FutureCarmeliteClaire]

I went to a vocations event last night and I was blessed to talk to a Sister who is from a more modern order (not exactly my style, but wait for the best part) and the woman organizing the event told the Sister that I was discerning the religious life and had spoken with several Carmelites and how I feel that is where I am called. The Sister talked to me about waiting to enter and how hard it is but what a blessing it can be in the long run. She had to wait and pay off her college loans before entering and that took a year and a half, but aside from that was blessed with the certainty of knowing where she was called several years before that, and she told me that she was mad when she found out that she had to wait to enter because of her college loans. She also told me that know that she looks back on it, she is SO glad she waited that extra year and a half because she said, "You need to see yourself as an adult before you see yourself as a Carmelite." she felt that extra year helped her develop as an adult. For me, I now know that even if I have to wait to extra years because they want me to have work experience or two years of college, there is no changing God's Will, this is what he wants for me. Whether I enter at 17 or 18 when I would like to or when I am 19 or 20 because of the two years of college that they would like me to have, I will do what God wants and I think He wants me to be patient. Just as I would have to wait for a husband if I were called to the married life, I will have to wait for God.
Just a few thoughts for those of us who are waiting.

Thanks be to the Lord that called us to be His brides.

[Lil'Monster]

im waiting to go to the retreat...

[Strictlyinkblot]

[quote name='Lil'Monster' timestamp='1321582633' post='2337674']
im waiting to go to the retreat...



[/quote]

You could always phone up the sisters and tell them how much you are looking forward to seeing them and could you come for a visit before then as you just can't wait.

[FutureCarmeliteClaire]

[quote name='Lil'Monster' timestamp='1321582633' post='2337674']
im waiting to go to the retreat...



[/quote]
And we know you are looking forward to it! BWAHAHA!

[Strictlyinkblot]

[quote name='FutureCarmeliteClaire' timestamp='1321576202' post='2337576']
I went to a vocations event last night and I was blessed to talk to a Sister who is from a more modern order (not exactly my style, but wait for the best part) and the woman organizing the event told the Sister that I was discerning the religious life and had spoken with several Carmelites and how I feel that is where I am called. The Sister talked to me about waiting to enter and how hard it is but what a blessing it can be in the long run. She had to wait and pay off her college loans before entering and that took a year and a half, but aside from that was blessed with the certainty of knowing where she was called several years before that, and she told me that she was mad when she found out that she had to wait to enter because of her college loans. She also told me that know that she looks back on it, she is SO glad she waited that extra year and a half because she said, "You need to see yourself as an adult before you see yourself as a Carmelite." she felt that extra year helped her develop as an adult. For me, I now know that even if I have to wait to extra years because they want me to have work experience or two years of college, there is no changing God's Will, this is what he wants for me. Whether I enter at 17 or 18 when I would like to or when I am 19 or 20 because of the two years of college that they would like me to have, I will do what God wants and I think He wants me to be patient. Just as I would have to wait for a husband if I were called to the married life, I will have to wait for God.
Just a few thoughts for those of us who are waiting.

Thanks be to the Lord that called us to be His brides.
[/quote]



I just hope I can enter before I turn 40. Not that there's anything wrong with being 40, I just don't want to wait another five years.

[Lil'Monster]

[quote name='Strictlyinkblot' timestamp='1321582768' post='2337677']

You could always phone up the sisters and tell them how much you are looking forward to seeing them and could you come for a visit before then as you just can't wait.
[/quote]

I am not THAT excited....gosh!

[quote name='FutureCarmeliteClaire' timestamp='1321582874' post='2337679']
And we know you are looking forward to it! BWAHAHA!
[/quote]


yeah....hmmmm

[FutureCarmeliteClaire]

I think LilMon is going to hijack my thread with her followers...

[FutureCarmeliteClaire]

[quote name='Strictlyinkblot' timestamp='1321582886' post='2337681']



I just hope I can enter before I turn 40. Not that there's anything wrong with being 40, I just don't want to wait another five years.
[/quote]
I don't want to wait 5 years (which I have to because it is impossible for me to enter before then), and I REALLY don't want to wait 7 years, but what this Sister told me helped me with that a bit.

[Strictlyinkblot]

[quote name='Lil'Monster' timestamp='1321582930' post='2337682']

I am not THAT excited....gosh!




yeah....hmmmm
[/quote]

It was just a suggestion

[size=1]We'll get you in the end. [/size]

[Lil'Monster]

[quote name='FutureCarmeliteClaire' timestamp='1321582945' post='2337683']
I think LilMon is going to hijack my thread with her followers...
[/quote]


you right on, kiddo

[Strictlyinkblot]

[quote name='FutureCarmeliteClaire' timestamp='1321582945' post='2337683']
I think LilMon is going to hijack my thread with her followers...
[/quote]

Sorry, will behave myself in future, honest

[Lil'Monster]

[quote name='Strictlyinkblot' timestamp='1321583029' post='2337687']

It was just a suggestion

[size=1]We'll get you in the end. [/size]
[/quote]


I know it was.....

[size=1]I shall not come to the dark side[/size]

[OnlySunshine]

While I know the waiting purifies your intentions, I am finding it so difficult to do already! I keep praying for Jesus to give me the strength I need to hold on and wait for His perfect timing. I also keep reminding myself that I was not cut off from sending my letter in. They just asked me to wait so I could be absolutely sure -- which, in my case, is a good idea since I was impulsive the last time.

I commend you, Claire, for your honesty and steadfast patience. Keep holding on to that. Even when it gets tough (as it will), just hold on to Jesus.

[Lil'Monster]

[quote name='Strictlyinkblot' timestamp='1321583072' post='2337689']

Sorry, will behave myself in future, honest
[/quote]

you naughty

[FutureSister2009]

There are actually wonderful parts of waiting? I suppose that does make a lot of sense though. I'll have to remember that

[cmaD2006]

Sometimes the waiting is to allow you to grow. God knows best -- and there are times that He believes that it would be best to help you grow while you wait. THEN you will be better prepared to be a religious.

I know one thing ... if (and that's a big if) I do ever enter another community, my experiences haven't been for naught. And there was a reason for the different twists and turns in my life.

[Sister Marie]

I would really pay attention to what Sister said about seeing yourself as an adult before anything else... not above anything else... but before you add another addition onto "who you are." When I entered the convent I saw myself as an adult but not as a very whole one, if that makes sense. I was still wounded by experiences in my life which kept me from really being the mature woman I "should" have been. That being said, I was very blessed to be in a community that gave me the healing experiences, however painful they were, that have made me identify myself as a woman of God and on top of that layer, as a religious woman. When I look at the whole experience I do believe that it is nothing short of a miracle that God was able to take me where I was and move me to where I am now as a person.

The point is that human growth is a really important foundation for religious growth. If you are not a realistically confident and independent (in the good sense - not necessarily financially or living situation wise either) there won't be a foundation of "nature" upon which God can give His "grace."

I know that this is probably becoming a tired thought around here BUT religious life is very difficult, whether you want to believe it or not. There are days I feel like superman and days I feel like I should be locked away! I rest knowing that my very being is good although flawed and that God is with me through each experience - that makes it NO easier though! Knowing God is with me does not give me a warm fuzzy feeling inside - sometimes it makes whatever difficulty I'm having even more difficult - conflicts with sisters and colleagues, being a persistent and sometimes annoying reminder to families of my children of their duties, being a competent leading professional in my place of ministry... these are all very stressful situations that bring many wins and losses, many graces and fears, many moments of temptation and redemption. They require a lot of human wholeness + religious holiness. You can't have one without the other.

None of us is there but I think Sister's words were very wise and prudent. What a loving insight for her to share for your good as well!

[cmaD2006]

[quote name='Strictlyinkblot' timestamp='1321582886' post='2337681']



I just hope I can enter before I turn 40. Not that there's anything wrong with being 40, I just don't want to wait another five years.
[/quote]

Being a 40 year old I don't know what to hope for anymore? I think all I really want is contentment with knowing that I'm His no matter what, to allow myself to be guided to wherever He wants, and to eventually reach Heaven and hear the words "well done, oh good and faithful servant."

[FutureCarmeliteClaire]

[quote name='MaterMisericordiae' timestamp='1321583161' post='2337691']
While I know the waiting purifies your intentions, I am finding it so difficult to do already! I keep praying for Jesus to give me the strength I need to hold on and wait for His perfect timing. I also keep reminding myself that I was not cut off from sending my letter in. They just asked me to wait so I could be absolutely sure -- which, in my case, is a good idea since I was impulsive the last time.

I commend you, Claire, for your honesty and steadfast patience. Keep holding on to that. Even when it gets tough (as it will), just hold on to Jesus.
[/quote]
[quote name='FutureSister2009' timestamp='1321583990' post='2337701']
There are actually wonderful parts of waiting? I suppose that does make a lot of sense though. I'll have to remember that
[/quote]
It is hard, really hard. I don't want to wait five years, and I DEFINITELY don't want to wait 7 years, but if this is what God wants than why would I not want it? V=v

[FutureCarmeliteClaire]

[quote name='cmariadiaz' timestamp='1321584731' post='2337712']
Sometimes the waiting is to allow you to grow. God knows best -- and there are times that He believes that it would be best to help you grow while you wait. THEN you will be better prepared to be a religious.

I know one thing ... if (and that's a big if) I do ever enter another community, my experiences haven't been for naught. And there was a reason for the different twists and turns in my life.
[/quote]
There are always reasons for the twists and turns that happen in our lives. Great post.