Following God

Barbara’s hopefulness reminded me of a conversation I had with Jonny this week.

We were just going about our normal routine, working on something together at the table, when Jon looked up at me with bright eyes and announced, “I think it would be fun to be a priest.”

I was surprised.  In the entire eight and a half years of his life, up until that very moment, he had never uttered a single word or behaved in any way that even hinted at a calling to the priesthood.  I did not mention this, though.  I remembered the advice our parish priest had offered for encouraging religious vocations among our children.  He had said: to encourage vocations, don’t discourage.  So instead of reminding Jon of all the other things he loves, or pointing out that he never pays attention at Mass, I casually inquired, “Oh?  What do you think looks like the most fun?”

He beamed.   “Well, I think it would be fun to get up in front of all those people and talk to them about God and stuff.” For a split second, I paused, trying to wrap my mind around the idea that public speaking is enticing to my shy son while simultaneously imagining him as a young man in flowing vestments at the moment of consecration. Then, just as I was about to pose another question to draw him out a little more, Jon shrugged and added, “Or maybe I’ll be a mechanic.”

I’ll be proud of him either way, as long as he’s following where God is leading.  As parents, I don’t think we can ask for much more than that.