Footprints in the Sand

One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord. Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.

In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand. Sometimes there were two sets of footprints, other times there was one only.

This bothered me because I noticed that during the low periods of my life, when I was suffering from anguish, sorrow or defeat, I could see only one set of footprints, so I said to the Lord,

“You promised me Lord, that if I followed you, you would walk with me always. But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life there has only been one set of footprints in the sand. Why, when I needed you most, have you not been there for me?”

The Lord replied, “The years when you have seen only one set of footprints, my child, is when I carried you.”
Mary Stevenson, 1936

Just in case you didn't notice, this is the same poem I posted on the left side of my blog. I really love this poem and I feel that this poem is perfect for the theme of my new blog. The poem is a reminder for me that God is always there for me, even though some times it doesn't feel like he is. Also the title of my blog is "Journeying with Faith "and the footsteps in the sand represent the journey and the faith part is that he is always there with me wherever I go.

Cha Tri shared something with me this summer at a silent retreat that I will take with me for the rest of my life. I was sharing with him how I was hurting because of what a close friend did to me. Cha then asked me if I offered up this to God. I told him I didn't because I felt like it was the friend that hurt me responsibility to make things better and not God. Cha then said to me " Do you think that God is sad inside for you? Do you think that he may be hurting with you?" I never thought God in that way. I pray to him all the time when I am feeling down, but I never thought that he would be sad for me. When you think of a perfect and all mighty God, you don't think of one as being sad and hurting. Cha Tri really opened up my eyes and help me realized that God should be my number one source of comfort and not my friends.

I am very blessed that I have friends that always there for me when I need one and so sometimes I forget about God. This is especially important for me this year because Martin Ngo, my closes friend that I use to spend hours every week talking to is now gone. I have to admit that last year I was very attach and dependent on him and if it wasn't for what I learned from Cha tri, I don't know if I would be ok today.

Keeping God the main focus and the center of my life has really done wonders for me. I truly believe with all my heart that God is the key to happiness and this has really strengthen my vocation to the religious life. I am scared and excited at the same time for what God has in store for me in my next journey with him.