Discernment Begins

I am sitting in a Chick-Fil-A in Oviedo eating a quick breakfast. I just dropped Laurel off a MPB so she can spend some time with the CRHP retreat team before we have to leave. Leave for what? Today is the first session of my discernment year for the diaconate. To say that I'm a little excited would be the understatement of the year. I have been waiting for today since I received my acceptance letter in June.

Today is not all good though. Laurel has been the spiritual advisor for the CRHP retreat team for the past several months and today is the beginning of the retreat. She has to miss the first several hours of the retreat and I know it's eating her up inside. Father David told her unequivocally that she needed to be with me today. That confirms that being with me is the right decision, but that doesn't make it much easier.

I don't really know what to expect today. I anticipate some ice breaker sorts of activities, as well as an overview of what the next year will look like. That accounts for maybe an hour or two, so beyond that I don't know what is coming. Learning about the diaconate? Discussing our faith journey? Small group sharing? Whatever it is, I am excited to be starting this process finally.