“ I have never gotten used to the truth of discipleship: that to belong to Jesus means more than just a good feeling of being cherished and loved. I still struggle with the fact that there are conditions for discipleship and that ‘following‘ means some hard demands and some constant conversion:

‘Then Jesus said to his disciples,

“ If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross and follow me. For anyone who wants to save his life will lose it; but anyone who loses his life for my sake will find it. What, then will a man gain if he wins the whole world and ruins his life? Or what has a man to offer in exchange for his life?” (Mt 16:24-26)

Too often I wish for a call free from obstacles, hurt, pain, disturbance, anxiety.” –  Joyce Rupp

These words are so true. Sometimes being a follower of Jesus brings about difficult times but the saving grace is our faith assures us that God is always with us no matter what we are going through….

“ On one of my retreat days last summer, I stooped to pick up a fallen cottonwood leaf. My heart has been deep into reflection on discipleship and the leaf suddenly symbolized all that I had been praying. Very nearly eaten out of the leaf was a whole, thumbprint size. The tiny chomp marks of a caterpillar or some avaricious insect could easily be seen. My worn spirit looked long at that leaf. I said to myself,‘ I feel like that: eaten up by my work; the events on my calendar have taken a large space in me.’

I have since asked myself many questions about ministry and the feeling that I sometimes get of being ‘eaten up.‘ I have gone to God in prayer and questioned how much of myself I can afford to give and how much I need to keep. No easy answers have come but gradually I have learned some lessons about the ‘holes‘ I sometimes feel in my spirit.” – Joyce Rupp

I don’t know about you, but one of the graces of Covid has shown me how much I was running and “doing”.

Covid has given me the opportunity to reach out in a different way through telephone calls, Facebook and Zoom; a much slower pace.

I find I take more time in quiet prayer and reflection.

Unfortunately with this pandemic there have been too many deaths and illnesses. It is the Paschal mystery coming alive.

“Through years of study, prayer, and practical experience, I now understand that I truly want God to be in charge of all things, because He has a greater sense of the ‘big picture’ than I ever thought I could understand. I recognize that sometimes His path isn’t the path I’d choose or the easiest road to travel, but it is always the path I need to be on in order to grow and fully enrich my life and the lives of those around me.

I am a bit of a control freak, so asking that God’s will be done over my own is, in itself, a daily challenge for me. When I give up that control and accept that He is truly in charge of all things, I am at peace. I trust Him even though I know it doesn’t always mean that everything is going to be easy. Life is tough, and you have to be, too. Every day we live is filled with uncertainty as people of God, we don’t know what tomorrow holds, but we know who holds tomorrow. God can make the impossible possible.” Kathy Ireland



We certainly are dealing with uncertainty today. Uncertainty has become the new norm and yet I believe that nothing is impossible with God. And so each day let us put everything in God’s loving hands.

“You are not alone and you never will be. God is with you every step of the way. Where the path leads, He is lighting lamps to guide you.

And if you ever do feel for a second that He is not right there beside you, it is only because He has gone ahead for a moment or two to build a bridge that will keep you safe from harm and that will lead you on toward the light shining through.” – Alin Austin

Wow! Do we believe this? Some days it’s easier to believe than others.

But I do believe that God is present in our lives not from a distance but present in each of our lives.

“ Knowing God has a plan for your life is very important. When things happen that are out of your control, it can be very discouraging. It’s easy to become frustrated, to feel afraid, and to question what the future holds. Putting your faith in God‘s plan allows you to trust that the events in your life are meant to be. It helps you to make choices that must be made and realize things are not really out of control – they are under His control.



There is a peace that can be found knowing that His plan is playing out in your life. When things are confusing for you, remember that God is in control and He loves you. Trust Him and His plans.” – Rick Norman

Sometimes in hindsight we can see God‘s plan. Sometimes we don’t see it at all. Sometimes we have to walk by faith not understanding why. Let us ask God to give us the strength that we need as we walk along our journey.