| Sisters of the Lamb of God For an ever greater love |
The other day I was asked how the spirituality of St. Therese of Lisieux had affected my own
spiritual life. I must admit that I had to think about this. You see, I was never strongly attracted to
St. Therese in my younger years. However, being of a more mature age now, I thought that it
would be a good idea to re-acquaint myself with her. To my surprise, as I re-read her life, I
discovered many similarities.
spiritual life. I must admit that I had to think about this. You see, I was never strongly attracted to
St. Therese in my younger years. However, being of a more mature age now, I thought that it
would be a good idea to re-acquaint myself with her. To my surprise, as I re-read her life, I
discovered many similarities.
| Sister Marlene Taylor, AD |
| Sisters Stories |
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| THE SPIRIT CONNECTION by Sister Marlene J. Taylor, AD |
We both love nature and history, have sensitive natures,
are intuitive, stubborn, creative and manipulative. She
was a rebel in her own way and I enjoy being a rebel
every now and then. She dared to be her own person and
risked new spiritual ways. I don’t mind being my own
person and I certainly love to set out on the unbeaten
path. As I continued to read, I realized that we weren’t so
different after all. So what is it that was still causing a
sense of unease within me?
Then I had one of my light bulb experiences (some
people call it the Holy Spirit). I realized that all St. Therese
had done was to live the Gospel message of child-like
simplicity, of total abandonment and trust in God. And
here was the rub for me! This sounded a lot like
powerlessness and de-possession to me and I realized
suddenly that I didn’t want to feel powerless nor be de-
possessed of all my worldly treasures.
are intuitive, stubborn, creative and manipulative. She
was a rebel in her own way and I enjoy being a rebel
every now and then. She dared to be her own person and
risked new spiritual ways. I don’t mind being my own
person and I certainly love to set out on the unbeaten
path. As I continued to read, I realized that we weren’t so
different after all. So what is it that was still causing a
sense of unease within me?
Then I had one of my light bulb experiences (some
people call it the Holy Spirit). I realized that all St. Therese
had done was to live the Gospel message of child-like
simplicity, of total abandonment and trust in God. And
here was the rub for me! This sounded a lot like
powerlessness and de-possession to me and I realized
suddenly that I didn’t want to feel powerless nor be de-
possessed of all my worldly treasures.
God, however, in his infinite patience, waited for me to make the connection. And one day in
prayer, the connection is made. It is precisely in my powerlessness and de-possession that
God resides. God really does know better than I. I just hate admitting it. Often my grown-up ways
(I don’t need any help! syndrome) re-assert themselves and I make attempts at taking control
again and again. After all, I do know what I need! And once again, God, in his own loving way,
quietly steps aside and watches me play grown-up, like I know what I’m doing, until I realize one
more time that this grown-up thing isn’t working too well! Uh, God?, I’ve sort of made a mess
here. I’ve worn myself out with the struggle. This grown-up thing isn’t all that it’s cracked up to
be. Would you please help me?” And before I know it, I am swept up in the arms of God and
once more life is peaceful (what seemed so difficult is now easy), that is, until I get the urge
again to play grown-up, and rest assured, there will be a next time!!
“Let the little children come to me and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the
kingdom of God belongs.”
Luke 18: 16-17
prayer, the connection is made. It is precisely in my powerlessness and de-possession that
God resides. God really does know better than I. I just hate admitting it. Often my grown-up ways
(I don’t need any help! syndrome) re-assert themselves and I make attempts at taking control
again and again. After all, I do know what I need! And once again, God, in his own loving way,
quietly steps aside and watches me play grown-up, like I know what I’m doing, until I realize one
more time that this grown-up thing isn’t working too well! Uh, God?, I’ve sort of made a mess
here. I’ve worn myself out with the struggle. This grown-up thing isn’t all that it’s cracked up to
be. Would you please help me?” And before I know it, I am swept up in the arms of God and
once more life is peaceful (what seemed so difficult is now easy), that is, until I get the urge
again to play grown-up, and rest assured, there will be a next time!!
“Let the little children come to me and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the
kingdom of God belongs.”
Luke 18: 16-17
| St. Therese of Liseux |