Prayer is important when someone is discerning a call to religious life.  It is through prayer that a woman builds her relationship with God, who is the One who calls.

During my discernment process years ago, I often asked God for a sign to affirm that I had a call to religious life. Now, as I accompany discerners, they too often seek a sign from God, trusting God to show them the path they are to follow.

In June, I traveled by car from Columbus, Ohio, back to Great Bend, Kansas. During this journey, I traveled on city or interstate highways and country roads. Sometimes, the road was so straight and wide open that I could see the road ahead as far as I could see with my own eyes, helping me to expand my horizon. Sometimes, the road was so rocky that I had to drive slowly to prevent rocks from hitting my car. Sometimes, the road was so curvy that I felt I was coming to a dead end, reminding me of a quote from Helen Keller, “A bend in the road is not the end of the road…Unless you fail to make the turn.” Sometimes, the road was so hilly that I could not see the road ahead of me. The famous prayer by the monk Thomas Merton came to mind, “My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end….” Click here to learn more about this Merton prayer.

As I traveled, I had to pay more attention to the condition of the road while also adjusting my speed limit, the pedal, and the steering wheel. And, of course, I did not stop in the middle of the road when I could not see the road ahead but kept moving. I believed there was a road or a way ahead, even though I couldn’t see it yet. I knew that if I kept moving when the conditions were cloudy, the view would eventually become clear and the road easier to see.  

Discerning a call to religious life can be like encountering different road conditions.  Sometimes, the journey may be smooth traveling, and we can be open to where the path leads us.  Other times, we may experience roadblocks or curves that take us on a wild path.  No matter the road conditions, we need to put our trust in God and follow God’s plan for us, believing there is a road ahead to do God’s will and participate in God’s mission on earth.

Discerning a life commitment requires attention and adjustments like driving on unfamiliar roads. During the discernment process, we learn to accept that changes are necessary if we are serious about exploring this commitment.  Just as drivers need to set aside distractions and focus on the road ahead, discerners need to pray as they reflect on this call and pursue where it may lead them.

As I engaged in prayer and reflection during my discernment process, I realized that what prevented me from moving forward with this call was not the lack of signs or the absence of a clear road ahead but my lack of trust in God and myself. I was a shy, passive, homebound girl who had never traveled out of state alone.  Moving out of state and living with an English-speaking community to follow this call was scary.  So, in prayer, I began to ask God for the courage to pursue this call.

The roads I traveled to become a religious sister were not always clear or wide-open ones but more often curly, rocky, hilly, and sometimes even very cloudy and foggy.  But, I knew I had encountered similar road conditions and challenges before on my journey from Vietnam to this country.  Faced with the unknown and an unclear future, my family came to this country and had to learn a new language and culture, and it was not easy.

I drew inspiration from my family’s journey to pursue what God was calling me to and I feel blessed to share this life I’ve experienced as a Dominican Sister of Peace.

How about you?  What road is God inviting you to follow?  The road may not be clear yet, but God will walk closely with you and lead you to where you are meant to be. Are you ready to travel this journey and focus on the road ahead?

You do not have to travel this journey alone.  God promises to be with you, and we are here to offer support and direction along the way.  We invite you to contact us as we listen and seek together God’s calling for your life’s journey.  You can also register to join us for a Come and See Discernment event, September 13-15, 2024, in Kentucky to pray and learn about religious life as a Dominican Sister of Peace.