Tuesday, February 10, 2009

God-cidence

I apologize for the lack of posting. It's been a busy semester.

A priest I know used to tell me that there is no such thing as a coincidence, only God-cidences. I call it providence.

Tonight, the Sons of St. Patrick, as part of its in world, working retreat, had planned a walking rosary for 7 PM. I mistakenly thought it was at 7:30. I showed up at 7:31 and no one was at the meeting place. I had the right place, but the wrong time. One of my friends, not participating in the retreat, walks out of the building where we were supposed to meet. He is one of my favorite people at Boston College and one of the people I would like to know more but he is very busy. He reminds me of me when I was his age, but he's far more loving.

He had been on a retreat this past weekend, and he wanted to talk about it with me. On the retreat, he asked about how one knows whether or not he is called to diocesan priesthood, and he explained what he was feeling inside of him. He's explained it to me before in the past, and I've told him, "That's your sign. You are being called." I have only ever thought this about three people and he's the only one I've said it to. I don't throw it around often. Many times I have no idea what advice to give people about discernment. With a few, it's blatantly obvious. However, some aren't ready to hear how God is calling them because of various reasons. Back to him: he was told the same thing on the retreat. He wanted to talk about it.

It turns out I was at the right place at the right time after all.