The Florida Retreat: A Vocational Booster Shot

Have you ever saved a seat for someone—in a dining hall, at a concert, or in any crowded situation? How frustrated are you when you wave your hands like an absolute fool, staring at the person whose attention you desire, and watch them see right through you and continue on, lost in confusion? You think that if you just stare them down long enough, they’ll finally see that you are right in front of them.

Sometimes I think that God must feel that way about young adults as we discern our vocation. Sometimes God’s messages are right in front of us, but we become distracted by the daily grind and neglect to see them. He continues to flag us down in different ways, and patiently waits for the one day when we can open our eyes and hearts to His will for us.

For those blessed enough to experience the week in Chicago at Catholics On Call, many of us had that eye opening experience. It was as if someone in the crowd handed us a pair of binoculars and said “Look! See! That’s what you’re waiting for!” Surrounded by supportive people and beautiful examples of God’s love lived out in this world, we wondered to ourselves why things hadn’t always seemed so clear in the first place.

Like all good things, the week came to an end and we returned to the faster pace of our lives, and to the distractions that muddied our vision in the first place. How many times have you thought you learned something, but the lesson managed to slip away after a few weeks or even days? Often times, we feel confident while we are inspired to change or act in the moment, but our ability to translate that into a permanent reality sometimes wavers. If you were like me, the occasional slip ups and moments of feeling lost and uncertain began to creep back into your decision making as time pulled us further away from that summer week.

Sound familiar?

Fortunately, I had the opportunity to rekindle my inspiration and reclaim some peace during Catholics On Call’s weekend of reflection in Palm Beach, Florida. I often refer to this experience as getting my "vocational booster shot." Coming together in community once again and being reminded of God’s peace, challenge, and call to conversion helped to refocus all of our restless spirits. Between the calm of nature, the company of close friends in Christ, and the courage of Jesus’ example through the Scriptures, it was the “binoculars” we all needed to rediscover our daily walk towards the will of God.

As Catholics, we are called into community with one another—a community that strengthens us, renews us, and challenges us to go forward. Catholics on Call is not a place in Chicago or a week in isolation, but that very community which continues to guide us all along the journey when we are lost, and remind us of the eternal light as we face the occasional darkness. The hope for the world that I found in each individual during this weekend was powerful beyond measure. Even more powerful was the feeling of unity that replaces the fear of loneliness along the path of discernment. As a member of the body, I am reminded of all of you working for the same goodness, and for that I am eternally grateful.

So the next time you feel lost in the crowd, know there is a community flagging you down—whether it be to participate in the alumni blog, spend time in prayer and dialogue with those in neighboring communities, or making it to the annual reunion retreat. Catholics on Call is waiting.

Megan Sherrier

(Megan Sherrier is a 2008 CoC alumn. Read also her participant profile)