A Young Woman's Reflection on JOURNEY AND DREAM
"I approached the Journey and Dream with some anxiety of the unknown into which I was stepping: not so much the weekend itself, I discovered, but openness to exploring the possibility of a call to religious life. The warm reception with which we were greeted helped melt away the anxious residues. The open sharing by those present and the efforts made to seek each of us out and sincerely invite us to share bits of ourselves and our stories warmed my heart, making it slightly more malleable by the Holy Spirit. I appreciated the format providing opportunities, but not obligations, to share. I also appreciated the time and space to experience a bit of solitude and internal listening."
"As I sit now and reflect back upon my time with you, I am thankful for all the preparation and committed presence on the part of you and your community that made the weekend a really positive experience for me. I have begun to share more openly with my family that I am exploring this stirring within me. I have settled into and begun to embrace this journey. I don't find myself fighting and resisting like I did only a short time before the Journey and Dream weekend. I have sought out other opportunities to connect with other communities and individuals. You helped foster an environment in which my desire for openness could begin budding into reality."
