Joyful Receptivity: The Joy of Doing His Will

I had a silly dream recently. In this dream there was a ghost trying to get my attention. It seems he had an unpaid parking ticket before his body died. At first I was scared and really annoyed with this ghost trying to get me to help him with earthly tasks. The more I paid attention to this ghost and the more he made himself evident and true to people surrounding me the more excited I got in helping him.

By the end of my dream I was fully throwing myself into whatever this ghost asked of me. This included going into a dark phone booth that people were entering and not returning from. At first I was questioning "Should I do this?" I remember feeling "He has not lead me wrong so far." I went in and into the dark felt immense joy at responding. Then I woke up.

I am not asking you to think of this ghost as the Holy Spirit. He was a stranger to me, an annoying 42 year old man who was riddled with anxiety. My tasks were not religious at all in my dream. This dream, however, has come to me at a time that I've been reflecting on certain things.

I feel as I am always asked to do things. Some are big asks, some are small. I am a "Yes" person. Those who know me know this. Those who love me never take it for granted. I am beginning to find that when I say "Yes" to what is God's plan for me, His intentions if you will, I find peace and joy in my heart. If it is not His plan, I feel anxious, or upset or even unappreciated. I am reflecting lately how backwards I have it. I am saying "yes" with some annoyance, some anxiety, some trepidation. But my "Yes" when in His plan, allows me to feel joy. I need to become more in tune with what my calling is, what God's plan for me is and become more joyfully receptive at these "Yes's" rather than appreciating the joy, peace and lack of anxiety after the fact. I look forward to my life responding to God's call joyously as Mary did, her fiat. I want a life that is receptive to our God's will and only that.

- Lynn Handley, Parishioner