Surrendering Like Joseph

For over four years the idea of creating a course on Ignatian prayer sat tucked away on a long-term dream list.  Every now and then, it would resurface to the forefront, but as I prayed with it God would gently tuck it away again for further marination.  As our team entered an intentional season of discernment during the Fall, the Holy Spirit brought the idea back in full force.  As I prayed with it individually and with the team, we all felt strongly that it was time to create and launch it in the world. 

So we made a plan.  We began to live into it.  Every time we thought we had accurately heard what God was calling us to offer we would suddenly find ourselves restless and with that interior knowing that something was off.  It’s funny to think of this now because at the time the Ignatian prayer course was going to be called “Calming a Restless Heart.”  We continued to step forward and discern.  Write content and check with God.  I think we rewrote the introduction page four times as we attempted to capture the vision God was birthing in us.  I kid you not the final clarity of how Going Past the Shallows:  The Ignatian Path of Prayer for Leaders wants to make its way into the world came hours before we sent the email on Thursday.  It was a wild ride co-creating with the Spirit! 

It is only today writing this that I am realizing how it echoes the journey of St. Joseph, whose feast we celebrated yesterday. He is not a person we typically think of during the Lenten season, but his feast day almost always occurs during Lent. Joseph witnesses complete surrender to God and God’s plan. Joseph had to continue to set aside his plans and surrender to where God was leading him.  He wanted to divorce Mary once she was with child. God sent him an angel to help him surrender to God’s plans.  As a parent, I can only imagine how much Joseph wanted to provide a safe and warm home for his family, and yet, God’s path led him to flee to Egypt to protect his family.  I am thankful Joseph listened and overcame his resistance to surrendering to the path God was unfolding.  What a ride he went on with God!  

The very content in Going Past the Shallows we want to share with you was utilized in the birthing of this offering.  It was through using Ignatian prayer tools and discernment wisdom that enabled us to leap boldly. So today, I write with Holy Spirit given hope as we step into God’s vision that this offering is not only to support those on the individual path of prayer, but to help others be sent forth to serve.  

So I hope you will join me in this Spirit-birthed offering! I have prayed on this offering for years.  My team joined me in praying on it for months now. We are praying for all of you who will sign up.  

Going Past the Shallows is for you!  

Going Past the Shallows is for volunteer or paid ministry leaders who lead ministries in parishes, schools, dioceses and other organizations. It is for those involved in ministries such as adult faith formation, young adult ministry, youth ministry, campus ministry, children’s ministry, RCIA, marriage preparation. It is for spiritual directors, retreat facilitators, pastoral care ministers, directors of religious education along with parents, catechists, teachers, bible study leaders, or leaders of women’s or men’s groups. It is for lay leaders, religious sisters, deacons, and clergy. It is for all who want to walk the Ignatian path with a trained guide and who are called to accompany others in their faith. It is for those desiring to say “yes” to God’s call into deeper waters of faith. 

Now that the offering is out in the world, our prayer continues. We continue to listen to the Spirits’ movement and are so thankful for the outpouring of support so far. Please join us in helping share this offering with the world as we accompany more people out of the shallows and to a deeper faith. 

Going Deeper

Learn more about our new course, Going Past the Shallows, a live virtual series on Ignatian Prayer.

Photo by Kunj Parekh on Unsplash