Guest Editorial

Searching for God in everyday life

By Sr. Suzanne Marshall, O.L.M.
May/June 2013

Return to Table of Contents
Print Article

I wonder if it’s possible to even want to search for God in the events of our daily lives unless we have first been found by God. Scripture tells us that “the love of God has been poured out into our hearts by the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” (Romans 5:5) So why is it that we don’t recognize that we have already been given this greatest of gifts?

Jesus has promised that if we search we will find, and we sense that this is true, but finding God or being found by God, our deepest need, our truest love, takes great courage and many of us run from this relationship into the busyness of life and the many distractions on offer.

If we do look for God we find evidence of the Divine imprint everywhere. For many people, God’s activity is more easily seen in creation—the beauty of sunrise and sunset, the power of the oceans, in clouds and rocks, in animals big and small.

If we are truly mindful, we see God in family, friends, and strangers; in the courageous, the fearful, the lonely, and the people we meet daily in our various ministries.

If we look with trust we see God in ourselves and we are overcome with gratitude that God does live in us and through us, touching the lives of all we meet each day.

Searching for God in all of life is the one thing necessary

Your Christmas Letter

By Sr. Rosemarie Donovan, O.L.M.
May/June 2013

Searching for God in everyday life was made easier for me when in November I was asked to help acknowledge the Christmas letters and wishes of our faithful benefactors. I had been living a somewhat sedentary life since having hip surgery last spring; a life very different from that experienced in Nigeria while working with the physically handicapped there. So now, every day some of your cards and letters arrive in my room. Your wishes and encouraging words for the lives we were living in our missions have been a great boost for most of us who must now remain in Canada. I was deeply touched by some of you who wrote of family difficulties, major illnesses, and loneliness, but your words were always hopeful, often funny, and most welcome.

And I haven’t even mentioned your financial help! You must know that we have never been flush with funds since our beginnings in Alexandria in 1949. But you have continued to support us spiritually and financially since then and your constant love and belief in us is truly a gift from God. Every evening we gather in our chapel for communal prayer and you and your needs are always with us.

I am deeply grateful for finding God and you in a special way in your warm Christmas letters.

Return to Table of Contents
Print Article