Catherine's Cafe Vocation Blog

 Last week I was sharing our beliefs about forgiveness with a group of women.  One woman was quite distressed when she came in and when sharing began we found out why.  She had just called her daughter-in-law who had hung up on her.  This hadn't happened before and she wasn't sure what she should do next. The other women gave her some suggestions:  don't call back immediately, but wait until both can process what happened. Wait a few days and then bring her a freshly-baked cake.  Wait and then ask for the Holy Spirit to guide her in the words she chose.  Pray for her daughter-in-law that she will open her heart to receive forgiveness. In all of our suggestions the key word was  waiting.  When we have wronged someone we decided it's best not to offer an apology immediately but to wait until the moment seems right.  Forgiveness doesn't happen instantly; it needs time and prayer, and it especially needs God's grace.  Have...

Have you ever experienced in your life a time when you were at crossroads, an intersection, transition or whatever you called it?   A time when you were in-between two worlds or choices and both of them or several of your future options were all good?   Presently I am living in such a space.   It is definitely not the most comfortable space to be in.   I am in my fifth year as parish administrator and I strongly feel that the time is right to let go of this familiar ministry and people and move unto something new.   Yet I am not too sure what the something new is.   However, there are several options.   Have you ever experienced that? Another challenge that comes with knowing it’s time to move on is trying to live in the present and complete the present ministry in the last couple months; yet having that feeling of excitement when I think of the limitless possibilities of the next ministry.   I find myself having to be very intentional about ...