A Sign of God's Love: A Call to Renew Your Spirit

Cassidy Van Slyke Blenke takes a moment during her busy day to pause, call on God, and find a way to reinvest in her happiness.

I constantly ponder “discernment of spirit,” to hear the Lord’s will for me in my life journey, whether it’s guiding big life decisions or when I’m hiding in my closet from screaming children, trying to take a moment for myself. I call to Him almost daily, “Please guide me. Help me.”

Recently, the holidays, school breaks, children's birthdays, vacations, doctor's appointments, and every other scheduled event bleeds together, stacked up upon each other. Yet as I write, this is a constant struggle: being unable to catch up and take a deep, long breath, as constant curve balls and dodge balls come at me.

Call to God and Summon Your Courage

I could not attend the Catholic Mom Writers’ Retreat this past month, but it gave me pause for thought, along with another faithful friend who recently took time to go on a solo retreat. Sitting on my floor this past weekend, overwhelmed and tired, I called to God, with no specific words, other than the love and tears pouring from my soul, as I turned my will to Him to show me the way. I was compelled to grab a specific book from my shelf that my mother gave me from her good friend. The book was about channeling your inner female power, and after briefly paging through, I decided now was the moment to schedule time for myself.

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After thoughtful consideration and gathering up my courage, I signed up for a women’s rock-climbing retreat in Northern California. An outsider might say “Wow, that’s impulsive, or even random.” But God would say, “No, it’s perfect for you, Cassidy.” Before I met my husband and birthed four children, I found my happiness outside, from camping, hiking, climbing trees, skiing out west, or road trips with friends, nature is where I first experienced God and a genuine connection to something much bigger than myself.

Listen to God’s Calling and Follow Your Heart

After signing up for the retreat, I began to reflect on other times God’s will provided me with the courage to say yes to an event that resulted in happiness and joy. For example, about 12 years ago, when a young man I hadn’t noticed before asked me out, I said yes, even though I wasn’t exactly sure or interested in dating, and then I ended up falling for him and marrying him.

A few years after that, I felt compelled to email a local priest, Father Joe, about discussing the Catholic faith, because something about the beautiful garden in front of Assumption Catholic Church in River North, Chicago called to me as I walked to work each day. To me, this calling, a compelling longing or notion, an inkling of courage to try something new — that’s the Holy Spirit at work.

Take a Chance on Yourself

By taking a chance on this young man, I met my husband, by meeting with Father Joe, I learned more about the Catholic faith and found my calling as a fellow faithful woman, and by listening to God, I took another chance on myself and signed up for that rock-climbing retreat to fulfill my spirit once again, and to reconnect and rejoin God in nature.

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I believe that the Holy Spirit gives us these clues to experience courage, new growth, and all the beautiful love the world and God have to offer. We just need to find a quiet moment, be open to His will, and take a chance on ourselves by making the time to feed our souls, no matter how busy we might be.

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