January

 

Jesus, I Trust in You!

Dear Family and Friends,

     I pray that beyond the COVID surge, you are experiencing the blessings of this new year, and seeing the hand of God in every detail of your day!!

     My family has lots of adventure stories!!  My mother was a quiet and unassuming (and beautiful!) woman, but she had a taste for speed that would surprise most people who knew her.  That drive for adventure and the unknown carried to each of her children… granted in very different expressions… but each of us seven siblings have our own stories of living on the edge!  😊



Mom giving her grandsons a lesson on speed (and fun!) 

     My sister, Ellen, combines her adrenaline needs with the expression of her faith… she goes on extreme hiking pilgrimages.  She and her pilgrimage companions pick challenging terrain, carrying all provisions on their backs, and go deep into the lonely wilderness to be Alone with the Alone.  They pray along the way, contemplate, share, and soak in the beauty of God’s creation. 

 Ellen surprised by an unexpected snowstorm in the High Sierras in Sept 2017

 

     At the end of November, she and three companions set out to hike to the bottom of the Grand Canyon and camp along the Colorado River.  It is dangerous terrain that requires them to carry emergency rescue signals.  At Christmas, she told me the story of her pilgrimage, and with her permission, I would like to share part of it with you. 

     These pilgrimages require precise preparation in practical matters… proper conditioning for distance and altitude changes, intense planning to ensure that they reach the infrequent natural water sources so that they don’t get dehydrated, precise packing to carry all that is needed for survival with as few ounces as possible, etc., etc. 

     There is also a spiritual preparation that takes place.  A serious pilgrim prays and fasts in order to be open to this encounter with the Lord.  Ellen had been carrying a theme in her heart during this time of preparation.  “Jesus, I Trust in You,” were the words the Lord was deepening within her soul.

     One area of indecision during Ellen’s practical preparation was whether to bring a liner for her sleeping bag.  The liner would add weight, but it would keep her warmer at night in cold weather.  While the weather at the top of the canyon didn’t indicate a need for it, she was not sure of the temperature change at the bottom.  She ultimately proceeded on the pilgrimage without a sleeping bag liner.

     As they started their journey, this decision nagged her.  She said it continually surfaced in her thoughts and prayers… will she need the liner?  Will her body temp drop too low at night without it?  “Jesus, I Trust in You!”  When they reached the bottom of the canyon (after descending for nine miles!!), the group set up camp on the banks of the Colorado River, and split up to explore each in his or her own direction.  As she walked and prayed, she came upon a clearing that had some signs of a previous campsite.  Turning the corner, her eyes fell upon something lying on top of a clump of bushes.  She walked closer and found that the item that caught her eye was a sleeping bag liner, the exact brand as the sleeping bag she carried for this trip!!  It was out of its package, but had never been unfolded or used!!  “Thank You, Jesus!” were the words that rose in her heart at that moment and every time she thinks of it since then!

     God went before her, and He met her there.  He showed her that what matters to her, matters to Him.  He showed her that He is caring for every detail of her life.  He showed her how much He loves her!!  He showed her that she can Trust in Him!!

Ellen and her son, Joe, in the Grand Canyon 

     This story resonates with me for many reasons: 1) I am so awed by God’s magnificence and providence!  2) I can relate to this story from moments in my own life when God surprised me with the perfect mark of His Love!  3) I am so grateful that He took care of my sister on this trip!!  😊

     This story also reminds me of our experience of God’s providence here at the Mother of Good Counsel Home.  Time and again since I have gotten here, I have experienced how God goes before us.  Sometimes He will place on our hearts an urgency to work on some goal or need in particular.  So we set about planning and building and working and doing our best.  But then, somewhere in the process, or as implementation of our work unfolds, we find Him putting pieces together in ways we never imagined or could have planned for!  We stand in awe that through our work, He does His work.  We realize that in working with God, what we do is so little, yet so important!!

     “It is just a great thing to be involved with God and Blessed Mother,” said Doris, one of our late Mission Partners, when she and I were discussing the Mission here at MOGCH.  Doris worked here for over 30 years until this past summer when she succumbed to her battle with Cancer.  She said it all!!

Doris living out our Mission

May you know His providence and care for every detail of your life, and that you can Trust in Him!!

 

In His Merciful Heart,

 

Sister M. Anselma, FSGM

 

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