Spring, a season of new birth, new beginings

Wow! It is so hard to believe that my first year as a novice, my Canonical Novitiate, is almost over. On April 25, during evening prayer, I will be recieving a blessing as I enter into my second year as a novice. I have learned so much this past year. I have also grown as a person, both spiritually, and physically. This past year, I have studied Monastic History, The Holy Rule of Benedict, and I have also studied our Monastic Professions and Practices. I have also learned a lot from the sisters here with whom I work, eat, pray, and play! The sisters have taught me to look outside of myself, to see things from a different light, and a different perspective. My way isn't the only way! Living in community sure takes a lot of patience, love, and compassion. We are not here to do our will, but the will of God who sent us. I have been truley blessed with the experiences that I have had this past year. These sisters and this community are such gift to me and to those who they serve in their various ministries. As a community, we have grown in my opinion, just in the time that I have been here. We have seen nine sisters pass away to their heavenly home, we have felt the economic cruch that all of society has felt, we continue to lean on each other and support each other, even though it may not always be easy. We have moved to new living groups and learned how to adapt to these new situations. Even though I haven't made my profession yet, I can feel that these sisters do everything they can to live out their professions of Fidelity to the Monastic life, Stability to this community, this current prioress, and the Rule of Benedict. There is deffinetly a feeling of love in this community. And this community strives daily to live out conversatio. To be willing and open to whatever life throws at you. It is for all of these reasons and many more, that I am proud to be a part of this community. Also, I have grown in my prayer life. By being faithful to common prayer as well as being faithful to personal prayer, I am showing my sisters that I am taking what we are and who we are seriously. Not every day is easy, I don't expect that they will be. However, I always keep this quote from the Rule in the front of my mind, "Do not be daunted immediately by fear and run away from the road that leads to salvation. It is bound to be narrow at the outset. But as we progress in this way of life and in faith, we shall run on the path of God's commandments, our hearts overflowing with the inexpressible delight of love"(RB Prol. verses 48-49). This next step in my formation will bring many new experiences, new beginings, new births. I will find a part time job, I will continue to serve my sisters here at the monastery, I will move to a new living group. I am looking forward to all of these things. I am also feeling a bit anxious, because it is all going to be a new experience, a transition time. But I know that by doing all of these new things, I will continue to grow in many ways. In May I will be attending NADI-Novices and Directors Institute. This will allow me to interact with other Benedictine Novices from all over. To share my story and learn theirs. This next year is going to be yet another gift, another year of my new monastic journey. God is good, all the time! All the time, God is good!