| What Does God Want Me To Do With My Life?
Kristina Cooper hears of a new community that has emerged to help women discern their calling in life
|
|
What does God want me to do with my life? This a question many committed young and not so young Christians ask themselves. Today faced with so many opportunities yet frightened to make the “wrong choice”, 21st century people find it hard to make long term decisions, about anything. Christians are not immune from this. Discerning your vocation in life, be it married, religious or single is neither quick nor simple, and often a person may need help to uncover the true desires of their heart, particularly in a consumerist, secular society like Britain today. One group that has recently emerged to help women in particular to do this is the Vocations Group for Women (VGW) in the Westminster diocese in London. This began initially with a small group of friends who came together in May 1999 to discuss their vocational journeys and what they felt God was asking of them. The support and encouragement they received from this was so great that they decided to meet regularly, inviting others who might be interested too. Gradually they established a pattern of evening prayer, teaching from an invited guest speaker and an informal time of sharing. Camilla Oberding, one of the founder members of this group comments, “ When our group was formed we soon realised that there are many ordinary young women who are seeking God’s will in their lives, and that sharing part of this journey together could be a source of strength and encouragement.” No particular way of life is promoted simply the importance of each person discovering their unique vocation from God. The Vocations Group for Women has grown steadily over the last couple of years and currently has 120 on its mailing list. Since it began eleven women have decided to try the religious life, while others have felt called to be married or opted for single life in the world as a conscious choice. The Cornerstone Community also runs the various activities associated with the Vocations Group for Women, including organising the regular monthly meetings at Westminster Cathedral, as well as holding occasional social outings, arranging weekend retreats. Details of these and other events, as well as many issues raised by vocation and discernment, can be accessed from their website: www.vocationsforwomen.org.uk
|
Currently
six of the group live together in the East End of London in an informal
community called the Cornerstone Community, which is facilitated by
Sr Christine Anderson FCJ, (Director of Craighead Institute for the
Integration of Life & Faith in Glasgow). This has enabled the
six to keep their regular jobs, while providing a structured and supportive
prayerful environment for their ongoing discernment. Camilla hopes
that other similar groups might start in other parts of the country.
