Thoughts, Prayers & Art

Walking the Sacred Path with Sr. Joan Chittister’s “Following the Path”

Sr. Joan Chittister’s “Following the Path: The Search for a Life of Passion, Purpose, and Joy” is an extraordinary book that offers a compassionate guide through life’s winding pathways. Sr. Joan is a masterful storyteller, weaving spiritual, psychological, and emotional threads into a tapestry that not only engages but enlightens.

What sets this book apart is its practical wisdom. It does not call for a dramatic overhaul of life but invites us to dig deeper, to find meaning in both the ordinary and extraordinary. With each chapter, one is compelled to reflect, rethink, and reframe their perspectives about what makes life worth living.

Moreover, Sr. Joan tackles the complex intricacies of human experience, from the challenges of societal roles and expectations to the inward journey of soul-searching. Her poetic prose is infused with an uplifting spirit, making every page a joy to read and a balm to the spirit.

How One Can Use “Following the Path” in Their Own Life

“Following the Path” serves as a spiritual handbook for anyone who seeks to align their lives with a greater sense of purpose. It helps readers ask profound questions like: Am I happy with my life’s direction? Do my actions contribute positively to the world? Is there a balance between my personal aspirations and my responsibilities towards others? It serves as an excellent resource for study groups, prayer sessions, or personal reflection and can even be the cornerstone of transformative retreats.

The book especially shines in its ability to integrate spiritual wisdom into daily life. Whether you are a young adult grappling with questions of career and identity, a parent juggling multiple roles, or someone at a later stage in life reevaluating your legacy, Sr Joan’s work offers navigational tools that are both accessible and deeply spiritual.

Building on these insights, let’s explore the rich confluence between the themes in “Following the Path” and the lessons from this Sunday’s Scripture reading in Matthew 21:23-32. In navigating life’s complex challenges and questions, both the biblical text and Sr. Joan’s book offer wisdom that is not just informational but transformational.

Matthew 21:23-32,

The lectionary this Sunday takes us to Matthew 21:23-32, where we meet Jesus in a moment of confrontation with the chief priests and elders about authority. Following His earlier acts of cleansing the temple, Jesus is questioned about the source of His authority. He responds with a question about John the Baptist and a parable about two sons asked to work in a vineyard. One initially refuses but later obeys, while the other agrees but does not follow through. The story becomes a critique of hollow religiosity and invites us into genuine, purposeful faith.

When we look at this text alongside the themes presented in Sr. Joan Chittister’s “Following the Path: The Search for a Life of Passion, Purpose, and Joy,” we unearth poignant lessons about listening to our divine calling while managing our earthly roles.

Authority and Authenticity

Jesus is questioned about His authority, a challenge that often arises in our lives when we seek to follow a path of passion and purpose. Sr Joan’s work underscores the need for authenticity in our pursuits, reminding us that the true authority to live our lives in a meaningful way comes from an inner alignment with God’s calling for us.

The Two Sons: A Mirror for Ourselves

The story of the two sons serves as a sobering mirror for our own inconsistencies. One son’s initial ‘no’ turns into obedience, while the other’s ‘yes’ results in inaction. The journey towards passion, purpose, and joy is not linear. Sr. Joan teaches us that it’s okay to falter, to say ‘no’ before arriving at a ‘yes,’ as long as the pursuit is sincere.

Navigating Earthly Roles and Divine Calling

The crux of our spiritual journey is often found in the tension between our earthly responsibilities and divine aspirations. Can a mother leave her children? Can a priest forget her flock? Sr Joan affirms that the call to passion, purpose, and joy does not negate our earthly roles but rather enhances them.

The scripture and the book remind us that our lives are a tapestry of choices, each thread colored by our own unique blend of passion, purpose, and joy.

And now, a poem that captures this eternal dance between earthly needs and divine calling:

“The Ever-Calling: A Journey of Discernment and Love”

In the quiet of the chapel, where the candles flicker low,
A voice arises in the silence, a calling soft yet sure.
Yet hearts in worldly garments often struggle just to know
If the whisper heard in stillness is a promise to endure.

“Come follow,” says the calling, like a shepherd to his sheep,
But the human heart is burdened with the fears that never sleep.
We ponder in the chancel, ‘neath the cross of olden wood,
Torn between the love that binds us and the call misunderstood.

Oh, how can one be certain in this ever-spinning world?
Where family beckons sweetly, and life’s banners are unfurled.
Can a mother leave her children? Can a priest forget her flock?
In answering this summons, do we risk it all to knock?

Yet, faith, it blooms in wrestle, in the questions dark and deep,
In the teardrops on the pillow, in the promises we keep.
Discernment is the compass that points steady through the fog,
It centers us in knowing when we hear the call of God.

Heaven’s love is never selfish, doesn’t tear the home apart,
It fortifies the spirit, gives courage to the heart.
It says, “Go forth and serve, but never lose your way;
Keep love as your foundation at the dawning of each day.”

So in the dance of duty, in the wrestle and the roam,
In the moments of decision, may we never walk alone.
With earthly needs and holy dreams, may we find the path to trod,
Bound by love and guided by the ever-calling God.