By far the best thing about my SLM training was meeting my fellow missionaries, striking up fabulous friendships, many of which I imagine will be lifelong treasures. The community that formed was beautiful in that each individual was so unique, yet we all shared many similar values and outlooks on life; we all are answering a call in our lives to follow Jesus in a courageous way. We quickly became something harmonious - to the point that the longer we were together, the more each other's words and actions would resonate within the hearts of the others. My SLM family, full of love, laughter and support, is a tremendous gift that not all are lucky enough to experience. I feel very blessed for my five weeks in New York with them. I know I will need to draw on these blessed memories and great friendships when things become heavy on mission.
When someone abandons their heart and opens it up to receive the most beautiful love, there is a pain that comes with this vulnerability, and in this case it was saying good-bye. As training closed and I felt totally reaffirmed in my relationship with God, and confident to depart for my site, I had to leave something that had given me such life - my new friends. As the final day arrived, I realized that God was calling each one of us closer to Himself through our individual journeys to mission. With this realization came the peace of knowing that God was asking me to let go of these people in order for them to go to Him. In a book I am currently reading, My Life with the Saints, author Fr. James Martin reminds his reader that: in life, "love must be freely given and freely received" - and "you have to remember that you can't 'cling' to it." What a timely message for me! What a privilege it is to be able to say good-bye to such wonderful people; their friendships and love are worth it all.
No comments:
Post a Comment