Its been a while I know...

So its been a while since my last post.
I've been up to a lot. but mostly just starting to get things in order for July. only about 4 more weeks of work at the epa. then a three week break and vacation with the family before I move in at St. Anthony's.
As far as things with the Franciscans go, I've been pretty busy the last three weekends especially.
I attended the 150th and 800th anniversary of the Province and the Order at St. Peter in Chains

The the following weekend I got a new classmate accepted, Adam Calder. So I got to meet and hangout with him. I think were going to have a lot of fun starting in July.

And then I went over to the Come and See Weekend mass on Sunday but Gabriel, the guy who attended wasn't there. He may be starting with the other three of us in July if all goes as planned. He had an early flight out and I missed him.

But I'm really looking forward to starting in July. That's not to say I'm always 100% even though I wish I were. It certainly takes a leap of faith to quit your job and make a commitment to this journey. There's a lot of questioning yourself that goes along with this. Like am I going to be happy? Is this really what the Lord wants for me? And ultimately you have to trust the Lord and just follow Him and let Him lead you. There are two things I always remember when I'm having trouble. One is the one our late Pope John Paul the Great used and was the theme of his Pontificate. Be Not Afraid! and the other is one that comes from the Divine Mercy Image which Our Lord gave to St. Faustina. Jesus I Trust in You! We just need to trust that as long we are listening to Him He will not lead us astray. Doesn't mean we always are aware of the reasons he leads us to where we are, but if we trust him we will be alright.

During discernment, I think its easy to forget that there is also someone who is totally against us making this decision and he is going to attempt to play on our fears and try to discourage us. Anytime we give ourselves over to God the devil hates this and will do everything in his power to stop us. But if we stay close to Christ, the devil will never overcome God's will for us.

Now I think we also have to be aware of ourselves and how our imperfections and sins get in the way of following God's will. And the only way we can overcome these thing is through the Sacraments and prayer.

I am comforted knowing that no matter where I end up in the end, I will be a better man because I have been willing to give my life to the Lord and to trust in Him. I hope the Lord blesses me with a life with the Franciscans but I'm just going to let Him show me the Way. Like the Lord said, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life." We can't go wrong when we are following Him.