A listener wonders why God doesn’t give her the answers she seeks when she prays the rosary. The Nuns discuss!
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Sister Rejane
This Random Nun Clip is brought to you by A Nun's Life Ministry.
Sister Julie
Sister, we've got another question that came in from Carrie from South Carolina. Carrie writes, "I am still trying to find out what the Lord wants me to do. I pray the rosary, but I find no answer. What should I do?"
Sister Maxine
I think we've all felt that way at one time or another. You know, we pray, we pray, we pray. Maybe we're in a difficult situation, and we're like, "Come on, God. Help."
Sister Julie
That's the crazy thing. We're doing what we're supposed to do. When we're in a tough space, we go to God. And then to feel like, "Doing my rosary -- rosary ain't saying nothing back."
Sister Maxine
That's right. I think partly that's what happens when we look for answers. And it's interesting, because that's one of the things about Carrie's question that occurred to me: I find no answer, and maybe looking for a response is another direction instead.
Sister Julie
Now that's an interesting thing, because Carrie uses the language of not finding an answer. Sometimes when we talk about looking for an answer, we're looking for this pre-determined thing. So for example, when I pray -- and I pray this regularly, Sister -- "Oh, Jesus, please, may I have a pony?"
Sister Maxine
That's right.
Sister Julie
I have a very specific answer in mind.
Sister Maxine
That's right. And I have to say -- and I know you're a good pray-er -- but I have yet to see a pony.
Sister Julie
I know! And I opened it up to like a small horse. I recently learned that you can have miniature horses -- not just ponies, and well, like actual miniature horses, but horses that are just horses, but small. I can't imagine why Jesus does not deliver one.
Sister Maxine
Right? Because it's like a house pet.
Sister Julie
It is like a house pet!
Sister Maxine
Instead of a dog barking, you could hear a little pony whinnying.
Sister Julie
Who wouldn't want to have animals in the convent with you?
Sister Maxine
That's correct.
Sister Julie
So anyway, okay. Back to Carrie's question. I got distracted by little ponies running around the house. But sometimes when we're looking for an answer, it's almost a sense of we know what it should be. But thinking in terms of a response, that it's not restricted to this or that answer.
Sister Maxine
It broadens our perspective. Let's use the pony analogy, and trot that out a little farther. [laughter] I'm sorry. It's been a long day. [laughter] But if all you're focused on is the pony, then you might not see the puppy or the kitty or the goldfish that God has opened up to you. So in our lives, you know, we may be praying for that specific thing and think, "If only I had that, that's the answer to what I need." And we may in fact, miss something that that we hadn't been anticipating.
Sister Julie
Carrie, I suppose a first thing then would be to open yourself to God responding to you.
Sister Rejane
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This transcript has been lightly edited for readability.
