by: Sr. Shirley Bodisch, OP

Summer is a time for relaxing, for enjoying the surprises that come along, for savoring the moments that unexpectedly fill my inner spirit with joy.  Recently, one of these moments was the appearance of fireflies in the back garden.  They had been missing for several years, but this year, suddenly, there they were. 

Fireflies have always given me great joy whenever they appear.  How is this so?  How does a small insect with its own built-in flashlight affect me in this way?  This experience with fireflies reminds me of the subtlety and gentle ways God uses to catch my attention. 

You see, I’m always looking for ways in which God points out to me the way I should go, or not go, when I seek help in decision-making.  It’s as if God sends these little messengers to say: “I’m here for you.”  Thus begins our conversation. 

I feel at ease expressing whatever I’m mulling over or when I have no idea how to proceed with something I’m discerning.  God and I, in the garden, speaking together as friends, trusting that what unfolds is the best way; that is, not only for me but also for the dream God has for me. 

Of course, none of us knows what the future might hold for us, yet in the presence of surprise appearances, even of small things, I look for the Divine Presence around me.  It might come in the sudden waft of a flower’s perfume, intoxicating, then gone.  Or perhaps a flash of my favorite color that a person is wearing as he/she walks by.  But this summer, it is the presence of an insect, one that bears a message of joy, delight, and assurance that God is guiding me as I go forward in the unfolding of my life.

So, these summer surprises I do savor as I thank my Beloved God for all the wondrous ways God’s Love enfolds me.

Perhaps God is surprising you and giving you signs or messages, nudging you to have a conversation with God about the path God is calling you to.  Maybe God is calling you to explore a call to religious life as a Sister with the Dominican Sisters of Peace.  Why not join us for our September Come and See retreat in Columbus, Ohio.  Click here for details or contact one of our Vocation Ministers to begin a conversation about this calling.