Plot twist!!
G'day from the land down under!
G’day mates! In a chaotic and completely surreal turn of events, I am writing this to you from Australia… I’ll be here for the next two months on an engagement loan from my company, living and working in Sydney.
It has not quite set in yet – I found out exactly one week ago that I was selected and had just four days to wrap my current project, lock up my apartment, say goodbye to my friends, and begin the 28-hour journey to the other side of the world. It was an opportunity I couldn’t turn down (and one I know I’ll be so grateful for for the rest of my life) but it’s also a hugeeee change. I feel a little bit like I gave up my entire life for Lent – my routines, my activities, my friends, my neighborhood.
But yesterday (I’m writing this Tuesday morning which is your Monday night so I get an extra 12 hours to write these each week lol), I realized that it’s times like this where the routines and habits and practices we spend so much time developing actually matter most. Sure, I may feel a bit twisted around, but I can still wake up early and go for a run. I can still pray my rosary. I can still go to mass. I can still talk to God. I can still get myself a little treat.
And, as always, the Lord provides!! My godfather picked me up from the airport, with flowers and a prepaid metro card and a basket of sweets for my hotel room. We went to a gorgeous waterfront lunch. I stumbled upon a daily morning mass that has adoration afterward. My hotel is right on the harbour so I can go for nice long runs with beautiful views:
I don’t know what the next nine weeks hold. I do know that God is very faithful and that He has me here for a good reason and all I need to do is look to Him and let Him take care of everything, and just have fun - celebrate, if you will. Please pray for me, and know of my prayers for you!!
In Christ,
Jane
What I’m loving lately
Powerful prayers
When this opportunity arose, I prayed, “God, if this is good for me, please make it happen, and if it’s not, take it away.” I didn’t love praying that prayer in the moment (because I really, really wanted to go) BUT I didn’t realize at the time how much consolation and hope it would give me when this worked out. It’s totally surrendered to God, which means that this is good for me and He will provide as He always does :)
The Irish Blessing
On St. Patrick’s Day (a solemnity here in Australia!), the priest offered us the blessing of St. Patrick: "May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face, and rains fall soft upon your fields. And until we meet again, May God hold you in the palm of His hand.” I just love that so much. What a gorgeous, gorgeous blessing and image!
Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
As you’re likely aware, I’m a HUGE fan of C.S. Lewis, and this is one of my favorites of his. I listened to the audio book of this on my longgg flight and it was so good. He does such a great job of breaking down, step by step, the journey to faith, and especially to Jesus. It’s a high rec if you haven’t read it or a reminder to revisit if you haven’t read in a while :)
Prayer intentions:
For a few friends hoping to conceive
For a special intention
For deeper trust (for all of us) in God’s good plans