This was our first year to travel to Italy. We had waited many years to finally fulfill this dream. Little did we know that we would return a few years later leading pilgrimages. God’s plan are so much greater than ours have ever been.

Our original plan was to go to Assisi only as a day trip. I felt we were being invited to stay for a night. Ken was open to it, so we adjusted our plans.

We spent one night in Assisi with our two teen aged sons, Zac and Nicholas and a friend of Zac’s. We were walking in the forest where St. Francis walked and prayed on Mount Subasio. I was watching Zac and thinking he was bored. I asked him “Are you bored?” He said “No, not at all. I wish I could stay here forever, away from all the pressures of the world.” I was overcome with emotion. I knew him so well and yet I had no idea what he was experiencing. This reminds me, often, to never assume to know what someone is thinking.

While in Assisi we were on a tour of the Basilica and the town. There was a young priest and his parents in our group. After the tour he invited us to a private mass he was celebrating later that day in a small convent chapel in Assisi.

On the way to the mass, after being in the forest where St. Francis prayed and meditated, our sons asked me, “Who do you think he’s going to ask to do a reading? I said ” I have no idea.” to which they responded unanimously “He’s going to ask you.” I said “No, he’s not.” and I truly believed he wasn’t going to.

We walked into the church and he approached me with a missal asking me “Will you please do a reading?” Again I was emotional. Our sons are so wise.

My question after this experience, for years, was “Why did you want my voice heard in Assisi?” My spiritual Director, John  journeyed with me on this question. I journaled with the question and created Expressive Arts pieces around this question.

Right before we left for Assisi, I had filled out the application for the first intake of The Living School with Father Richard Rohr. I had no expectation that I was going to be accepted, I was simply listening to the nudge. The discernment process for the intake of students was happening while we were in Italy. I was invited into the program a few weeks later. Over 1500 people applied and I was one of 180 invited to attend. The gentle nudge of God certainly takes us on interesting journeys.

The weaving of all of this to create pilgrimages and teach is not of my doing, there was no business plan, no plan saying in four years I am going to lead pilgrimages in Italy. God has  gently been inviting me to step.  I’m simply trying to be attentive and keep up.