In this Random Nun Clip, a listener is startled to sense a call from God after watching nun videos. Hear the full Ask Sister podcast at AS205. Hosted by Sister Maxine with guest Sisters Connie Bach and Michele Dvorak.
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Sister Michele Dvorak, EdD, is First Councilor of the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ, in Donaldson, Indiana. She has ministered in education since 1976. She was a teacher and principal in Indiana and Illinois and a professor at Calumet College of St. Joseph in Whiting, Indiana, where she also served as Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs.
Sister Connie Bach is Director of Vocations and Director of volunteer programs for the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ. She was in elementary education for 20 years as a teacher and principal. She also served as a music therapist for 10 years. Sister Connie has BA degrees in elementary education and music therapy, and a master’s degree in supervision and administration.
Sister Maxine
This Random Nun Clip is brought to you by A Nun's Life Ministry. I'm Sister Maxine, and my guests on today's show are Sister Connie Bach and Sister Michele Dvorak of the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ, based in Donaldson, Indiana. So Sisters, we have another question that has come in. This one comes in from Charlotte, in Alaska. Charlotte asks, "Is it possible to feel called by God, even if you don't believe in God? I find myself drawn to watching videos about the lives of nuns. I understand the attraction of living a very simple life as I do that in my own life. Intellectually, I can't get my head around the belief in God. But something else from my heart speaks to me when I consider the lives that religious live. I guess I am confused, but can't ignore the feeling that somehow God is involved in this." So Charlotte is wondering, how can she sense that God is involved when she says she doesn't even believe in God? Can you be disbeliever and still sense a call from God? It's understandable why she would kind of be unsettled by that. I could see the confusion. You know, you sit down, you watch some nun videos, and all of a sudden, God shows up. What do you do about that? Sister Michele, have you in your life ever been in a place where you sort of resisted God, where there was a particular thing you felt called to or challenged by, where you were like, "I don't know, God. I really don't know."
Sister Michele
I would say daily. [laughter] There are times that I need some wisdom about a situation or dealing with someone who is struggling, et cetera. And my response is "God, what is going on? I can't believe that, da da da da." So that whole idea of belief, and non-belief. I think it's a human issue that we struggle with. There's nothing magic about our life with God. I don't see it as magic. I see probably much more of a sense of walking in fog. And sometimes it really is kind of a thick fog. Walking forward, knowing there has got to be a path here. And I'm on a path. And I don't know exactly where this is going to end up. But I walk forward because I believe. But still, you're kind of surrounded in that unbelief. So it's sometimes very difficult. Has that happened in my life? Oh, yes. And belief in God, a belief that I think for me personally, it was belief whether God could really help solve a situation. I can look at that in our society presently. And say, "God, is there something that can be done? What is the call that can be done about our schools and our children, and in what happened in in Parkland, Florida, as well as many others since January 1? What is that call? What does that call to advocacy? And how can you allow this to happen, God?" I mean, you can really ask that question: how could there be a God who could allow that to happen? And I think we struggle with that. So Charlotte, I just applaud you and say keep on asking the questions. When we ask questions, it helps us get to a new level of understanding, and you said, intellectually, you can't wrap your head around this concept of God. But by the very question that you're asking, you're already saying and opening yourself up to, "Get me to another level in relationship to this."
Sister Maxine
To hear full episodes of A Nun's Life podcasts, visit the podcast page at anunslife.org/podcasts.
