A hand-picked, tailor-made message
In Paulo Coehlo’s The Alchemist, a shepherd goes out into the world in search of enlightenment…and finds it right where he started. So it was with me, I have had a lifelong search for God. I came into this world in a house of the Lord, and came back to it through Jesus.
I was raised in a devout Catholic household, but it wasn’t enough for me. I studied everything from Buddhism to Hinduism to the rites of the South American indigenous. I devoured every spiritual book that found its way into my hands, from C.S. Lewis and Christian apologetics to ancient gods and customs to earn divine favor.
“There comes a time in our spiritual maturity where we are no longer satisfied with hand-me-down revelations. We want specific hand-picked words, tailor-made for us.”
Priscilla Shirer said there comes a time in our spiritual maturity where we are no longer satisfied with hand me down revelations. We want specific hand-picked words, tailor-made for us.
I cannot explain it, but at Father Richard Rohr’s HIM 2016 Preconference session, it was as though he was speaking back to me my entire spiritual journey— the aha! moments, the missteps, the confusion, all of it.
He spoke of suspending dualistic thinking. He spoke about understanding that everything and anything we do with and in God’s love can teach and transform us. He spoke of learning to see ordinary things as extraordinary. The Spirit is everywhere. Once we realize this, we don’t need to wait for a sign as apparent as a burning bush, because we’ll see that every bush burns.
“I thank God He sent Fr. Rohr's message to me at the conference, on that very day, for that very purpose.”
After a lifetime of seeking and waiting, it was affirmation that was literally a godsend. Affirming nearly everything I’ve put together in my spiritual studies, an indescribable peace fell over me. It was as though God Himself was saying, “Kathryn, my lovely girl, you’re on the right path. And I made it so that you would be here to hear this. I am so proud of you.”
A transformation, a renewal of my mind happened that day. I thank God He sent Fr. Rohr’s message to me at the conference, on that very day, for that very purpose. I now feel compelled to continue to delve deeper into using my Christ mind and to be as close as possible to Him. I delight in knowing I can and will be used for new functions He has for me. And I cannot wait.
