Spiritual direction with Msgr. Elmer is like having the opportunity to sit with one of my closest guardian angels and receive classified divine insight into what my next move should be, divine pardon for the actions and behaviors that had troubled my spirit since our last visit and divine counsel to remain sure of the purpose behind it all. When I left Msgr. Elmer this morning the weight of confusion and doubt lifted allowing me to breathe deeper.
“Shannon, it is clear God’s got His finger on you maneuvering you through this journey of the ministry. You only need to listen to your own story to recognize that He has brought you this far into ministry not to have it end abruptly. Recognizing His fingerprint on you should give you enough faith to endure these times of stagnant uncertainty,” he had said to me after listening to my weeping and moaning about how unclear the days have been for me lately.
In my mind I envisioned me as this little miniature figure with a big thumb pressed on top of my head. Every move the thumb made I had to follow because I was attached to this appendage with superglue. 🙂 Msgr. Elmer continued, “Shannon, your journey is unique. It is specific only to you and the type of relationship you have with God is specific and unique between the two of you.” He put his elegant hands on his chest, “As my relationship with God is unique and specific with Him as is my journey. Because of this you have to rely more on the trust you have gained in learning to follow Him.” The image of the big thumb pressing down on a miniature me changed and the thumb lifted up to reveal His divine fingerprint embedded into my skin. God’s fingerprint.
With a slow but deliberate gesture, Msgr. Elmer spread his hands out wide before him and said, “Remember, there will always be some rain before the sunshine.” He brought his hands back in like a gentle wave. This was the final statement he made that burned a lasting impression into my psyche.
Funny thing is, nothing he said was new or something I hadn’t heard said in a thousand other analogies. What is comforting in these images is I know God needed me to see them, to feel the certainty. It is no different than reading His word over and over again, each time recognizing a new verse that grips your heart or finding a section you highlighted, not remember what the passage meant to you then but can claim a new, fresh meaning in that very moment.
What a gift. 🙂
Thank you, everyone, for praying for Neal. He woke up this morning with the ‘mood’ gone. We were able to get some new medication for some other symptoms he’d been feeling as well so we are grateful to everyone for caring about him and our family.
Blessings
Shannon