I took Psalm 74: 24 - “With your counsel you guide me, and in the end you will receive me in glory,” as today’s text. I found great comfort in the words, and lingered over them, repeating them again and again. I drifted up to verse 23, “Yet with you I shall always be; you have hold of my right hand.” And the whole of it was even more of a delight. Again and yet again, I repeated them. Several times though, I was tempted to push on, but my Father told me to wait awhile, so I did, and continued the repetition.

He rewarded my patience (perhaps the wait was a test of that) with what was a very significant insight for me, personally. For quite some time, I’ve been asking Him what He wants me to do with my life. I’m not getting any younger, and I know there is a purpose for my being. He confirmed that there is a purpose for every person’s being. Much of the unhappiness in the world is because so many people refuse to cooperate with their “destiny” or “karma,” to borrow a word from Eastern philosophy. They play games at being what they aren’t, reject God’s help, and end up miserable. I know the feeling. I’m 37 and still don’t know what I’m supposed to be when I “grow up.” It’s like being a ship without an anchor.

But my Father is good to me! He told me what I am, how I fit into His plans! I’m a writer! He told me not to worry about my lack of formal education; He’ll see that I’m taught. He has already provided me with an inclination toward writing - I enjoy it, and have an active-enough imagination. He really does want me to write the series of novels I’ve been playing with. He will smooth the path before me, and showed me how He has already begun. Taking on the second SIG newsletter is part of His plan for me, though He wasn’t specific about how. It’s so good to know where I’m going, and what He wants of me! Now I know what kinds of prompting I should be especially alert to, and how better to focus my energies. An anchor, at last! How good my Father is! (1)

(1) Spiritual director: A lot of people don’t bother to listen to God. Sometimes on a long retreat like this one, God speaks to them. Actually making a life choice is what this retreat was intended by St. Ignatius to facilitate. I’m still not sure why it so often happens that God reveals life directions especially at this point in this retreat, or shortly after this point. Anyway, I’m glad it happened that your life’s direction, with your Father, was shown to you. And you were ready to receive His perspective when He was ready to give it. I’m sure He is very eager to share a lot more with you!