This past Thursday night was the last preseason game for our SuperBowl Champion Ravens. That only means one thing, everything really counts from now on.
But, in a sense, the training camps, practices, and preseason games did count for something. After all, as I always tell my brother, an athlete improves in the off season. So there are players all over the NFL wondering if they improved and are good enough to make the team.
I bet you didn’t know there was another preseason going on. It happens all over the world at different times. This preseason isn’t about sports, it’s about vocations to the religious life. And my preseason is almost over.
You see, I’ve wanted to be a sister before I was even Catholic, back in 1994! I didn’t get confirmed until 3 years ago, but I had that goal in the back of my mind the whole time as I learned more about the Church and my place in it.
I like sports, so I think of these years of preparation for confirmation and researching different forms of consecrated life as my preseason. Even my acceptance into the Servants of the Sacred Cross still meant time preparing because I have been waiting over a year to start my formation as a postulant.
(Banner from the home page for The Servants of the Sacred Cross; thesacredcross.org)
On the evening of September 7th, I’ll leave Baltimore bound for Canada on the Greyhound bus. When I return on the 15th, I’ll bring with me the spirit of new sisters, a new community, and all of those other awesome feels we get on a new journey. Much like this journey, each new sports season begins with high hopes and expectations. And so will my season.
I know everyday will not be easy (no one is promised that), but I know God has something wonderful in store.
With that, I will close with the words of our Blessed Mother, “And Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” (Luke 1:38, RSV)