A Divinely Written Summer

For those of you who are interested in the spiritual fruits of this
summer, I think I found the perfect thing to share.

Before I share it, I want to clarify that these are the immediate
spiritual fruits that I recognize. I know that God is not limited to my
understanding of His grace, so perhaps another entry down the line will be
in order. God is not confined to Time, which He created anyway. :)

That said, around the middle of the summer, we had a “Day of Reflection,”
to help us refocus and recommit to the work we were doing. It was a
Thursday, which is important, because on Thursday nights Adoration is
available for parishioners.

At one point during the day, Rachel, the director, gave us one blank sheet
of paper and an envelope to write a letter to ourselves by the end of the
day. This is not an exercise unique to CUP, for I’ve done many “letters to
my future self.” Usually, when I write these letters and read them later,
I’m unimpressed with myself. Honestly, I have a hard time putting value on
such things, because often I write the letters under duress (i.e. for my
job or because I have to be a good example for someone else), so I end up
saying something snarky or sarcastic.

When Rachel asked to write these letters, then, I thought to myself,
rather apathetically, “eh.” Silly me, I didn’t realize that, when I
decided to hang out in Adoration that evening, the Holy Spirit couldn’t
care less for my less-than-enthusiastic response.

This is the long way of saying that my letter, which I just broke open and
read, sitting here in the Detroit airport, was perfect.

Perfect.

Divinely written.

It spoke to exactly what I’ve been reflecting on with God - new thoughts,
not old. I was not thinking about these thoughts on that “Day of
Reflection.” I was focused on something completely different. Yet, I still
wrote the letter. Well, that’s a bit of a stretch, actually. God wrote me
this letter.

So would you like to read it? Verbatim, I will share it. Remember, it was
written in Adoration, with my hand, and God’s thoughts. I absolutely
believe that.

...

Oh dear Heide,

I pray you will find your feet. Relax and let God reveal Himself as He
chooses. You are and have always been a strong woman... Sometimes, the
strongest thing you have, however, is your own will. Submit to the love of
God.

That is my prayer for you. You are so beautiful and I hope you have a
better understanding of that. Leave this project with a renewed spirit and
a renewed hope in the love of God.

Do not try to fill the emptiness. Let the One who made you do that.

These are all my little reminders. Hold onto all you can from this summer,
and let God change you.

Remember, your life is His... and you yourself know that you wouldn’t want
it any other way.

Love
yourself.
...

These are my reflections. These are God’s lessons for me. And perhaps, for
you too.

Pax Christi.
-Heidemarie