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I've been feeling lost lately.
I'm in a dark thicket of woods, and suddenly I've come to a fork in the road.
Well not just one fork, the road splits off into dozens of directions.
At each road there is a door.
Some doors are wooden with glass windows.
Some are painted vibrant colors and look as if they came from a gingerbread house.
Some doors are tall and foreboding with giant iron hinges.
All of them are open just a crack and if you listen closely you can hear noises on the other side, as if there is a life or an experience to be had.
Perhaps people to meet, a job, a house, a family?
I feel like I'm stuck at this fork in the road. I've walked up to a few of the doors that intrigued me the most only to have them shut in my face, some more gently than others.
It seems like the choices recently increased in difficulty like levels in a video game. And I'm not any good at video games.
I'm not exactly lonely because of all this, but I feel alone. As if God needs me to make a choice, but I don't know what it is or which path leads in the right direction.
Whenever I'm feeling spiritually depleted, if I keep my ears open, it's always surprising to realize when God's talking to me.
The second reading yesterday for the Third Sunday of Advent spoke to my heart and I felt peace (if ever so briefly); Brothers and sisters: Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again: rejoice! Your kindness should be known to all. The Lord is near. Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:4-7 (emphasis added) So, even through times of tribulation and sorrow, "rejoice!" And St. Paul reminds us that Christ remains near to us whether or not we feel His presence. And most importantly, give thanks to God through the hard times too. How appropriate that the Third Sunday of Advent is meant for rejoicing: Gaudate. You never know when the mist will start to disperse in the forest and the bright light will lead you in the right direction.
Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again: rejoice! Your kindness should be known to all. The Lord is near. Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.