One of Those Weeks

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Did you have one, too? A week where all the planets aligned to make life as dizzying as it possibly could be.

Besides the normal chaos of being "back to school" after spring break, lots of little stuff happened to throw us completely into a spin. Little things like five-page papers, dental appointments, broken tooth brackets, allergies, colds, taxes (yes, we waited until this week), and the 28th anniversary of my father's death (he got death and taxes on the same day).

Though they are unpleasant, all those things I can deal with. They make me nuts, but mostly they are par for the course.

Sandwiched between the bread of daily life this week, however, was some real meat. Some real food for stress.

I dropped my second-born son off at a weekend live-in at the Pontifical College Josephinum today. And I stressed about it all week.

You see, my son did not exactly volunteer for this little weekend visit. I sort of said, "I would like you to do this."

O.k. True confessions. I actually said, "If you want to go to prom, do this first."

And he said, "O.k."

Joshua is my one son who never said, "Nope, it's not for me" about a vocation to the priesthood. Maybe it's his personality, or maybe he just didn't want to break his old mom's heart, but he always said, "Maybe."

And so, when the postcard arrived in the mail inviting him to this weekend live-in, I pounced like a voracious hawk.

And then came the guilt. Mother guilt. Catholic mother guilt.

And so, yesterday, with visions of my child's lifetime of therapy ahead, I called our parish priest and said, "Did I do this all wrong? Did I really mess this up?"

And he said, "No." Sigh.

He said, "He'll be fine. He'll enjoy himself. And if he hears a call, beautiful. And if he doesn't, he'll know that he at least gave a little listen."

And thus, my Joshua is within the hallowed walls of the seminary tonight, participating in the life of the college seminarian, attending Adoration and Benediction and social hour at the pub (!). And tomorrow he will attend Mass and classes with the men, getting a glimpse at the life of a young seminary student.

I know it's really not even a baby step, but a mother can hope. And pray.

If you need me, I'll be on my knees.




PS If you have an extra prayer, God bless you.

PPS Thank you Matthew, for taking him under your wing. You get many, many extra prayers!
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