Concerning Discerning

A Video Call, the MGL's and JOY!! Over the last couple of days, I've really been praying for an increase in joy. I particularly reflected on this on the 13th of April, where the readings were all about joy and fullness of life in His presence (Acts 2:14, 22-33; Psalm 16; Matthew 28:8-15). Life's felt a little dull recently. I am so blessed to be where I am today - in a Catholic flat, surrounding by supportive people, with a youth ministry job which I love, in a beautiful location etc... But I've just been feeling like I'm made for more. Like as amazing as that all is, this isn't where I belong - this isn't quite where I'm meant to be. That doesn't mean that God can't use/isn't using this time now for His glory! But I'm just longing for more. And today was the most joyful I've felt in ages! 😁

That title sounds dodgy...but couldn't think of anything else to describe this post...😊 During this time of lockdown, I have come to realise even more how the Lord doesn't need to be with us physically in the Eucharist to reveal is love to us! One Sunday a couple of weeks ago, I had a beautiful moment with the Lord during 'Communion' as our flat watched a virtual Mass. I've been finding it very difficult to focus during Mass, because it's so different! Not necessarily the structure because that remains the same, but just the fact that we're sitting on couches at home, in comfy clothes, snuggled under blankets, for the whole Mass.  Easter Vigil Mass setup (our Mass environment isn't always this fancy!)

Following on from my post 'The Beginning,' here's a brief (be warned I don't do brief very well!) overview of my Vocation journey from then till now. 2018 Couldn't find a recent pic - so enjoy these pics I took of a VCR video that was made showing moments from my birth until after my first birthday! We unearthed it for my 21st this year 😍 This is the moment they first laid eyes one me...😭 Grandparents 💕 I don't know why exactly (and I know it's a good idea to tell as few people as necessary in the beginning), but I really felt like I should tell my Grandparents (on my Mum's side) - my Nonno and Nonna - abut this call I'd felt at camp. So the day camp finished, I briefly went and visited them to let them know. I felt so excited and happy, and honestly like I'd just been proposed to, and was going to inform my grandparents...I was excited to see their joy for me too. They are very Catholic and very faithful, and I think ...

When I say 'The Beginning,' this clearly isn't the moment when I decided it was time to properly discern things now - as if all my previous decisions hadn't been discerned but just made on the spot...Discernment is a lifelong process, and is something we do every day. What is Discernment? Google says discernment is 'the ability to judge well.' From a Christian point of view, ' Discernment can describe the process of determining God's desire in a situation or for one's life or identifying the true nature of a thing, such as discerning whether a thing is good, evil...' ( Wikipedia ) I really like how Ann Yeong explains it on the Archdiocese of Singapore website : Discernment is the process by which we come to know what is in God’s heart and discover to our amazement that it is what is in our own hearts as well. Discernment is a loving and attentive listening to the One we love more than anyone and anything in the world so that He can unv...

It's Easter Sunday 2020, I'm sitting in my room feeling pretty lonely. This Easter is being spent in lockdown because of the Covid-19 virus, and while I definitely believe I made the right decision in staying at my flat 'Mary's Mantle,' rather than going home to Tawa to be stuck with my family for 4 weeks, it doesn't make this Easter any easier! (Don't get me wrong, I do love them, but I also love having my own space sometimes too...Try getting any work done while surrounded by 2 young boys pretending to do their schoolwork).  I took a moment just now to sit in silence for 5 minutes - to stop worrying, and just be in God's presence for a bit. I definitely didn't get through 5 minutes 😅 but I was reminded again of how close the Lord is to me. And the idea of this blog came to mind again, as it has done many times over the last few days. So, since we're in lockdown and I have tonnes of free time... ...Intro 'Concerning Discerning!...