I'm moving tomorrow morning from Georgia to central California, pulling a small U-Haul trailer - should be a 6 day drive I think. My black labrador will be keeping me company on the way. This past week I sold the rest of my furniture to pay for the move back out West, which is where I was born and raised, most of my family is still there - and that is a blessing.

Almost 2 years ago I came out to Georgia, after 5 years in Colorado working for an RC organization, hopeful that a priest friend of mine and I could try some community-building in our particular Greek Catholic tradition - many of you know how very, very hard that is to do. Well, needless to say it all failed. I was sad and hurt, now I just feel sort of dull. I don't know what the future holds for me, but then which of us does anyway?

I would appreciate your prayers for a safe journey, for finding a decent job when I go back to where I started from and that the Lord continues to be merciful toward me. Thank you!

You are in my humble prayers. May all go well for you in your new life.

A prayer that has always helped me in times of transition, from the Lutheran Daily Office following the Homily:

Lord God,
you call your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending,
through paths as yet untrodden,
through perils unknown.
Give us faith to go out with good courage,
not knowing where we go,
but only that your hand is leading us
and your love supporting us
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Dear Brother in Christ,

I pray that the blessed Mother of God and the Archangel Michael will protect you from all evil and danger whilst on your journey--and that you will be guided by God to gainful employment and a new life full of happiness.

Be well, and keep in touch--
Christ is risen!
Alice

AMEN and Go with God!

You have not failed. Yes it is hard to plant a church, especially an Eastern Church in the Bible Belt, what you take with you is a life of missionary training. You may be tired, and even burned out, but you learned a lot about people. Now where God is going to put that to use is what your question really is.

I love this novena...

Efficacious Novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
I. O my Jesus, you have said: "Truly I say to you, ask and you will receive, seek and you will find, knock and it will be opened to you." Behold I knock, I seek and ask for the grace of...... (here name your request)

Our Father.... Hail Mary.... Glory Be to the Father... Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.

II. O my Jesus, you have said: "Truly I say to you, if you ask anything of the Father in my name, he will give it to you." Behold, in your name, I ask the Father for the grace of.......(here name your request)

Our Father.... Hail Mary.... Glory Be to the Father... Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.

III. O my Jesus, you have said: "Truly I say to you, heaven and earth will pass away but my words will not pass away." Encouraged by your infallible words I now ask for the grace of.....(here name your request)

Our Father.... Hail Mary.... Glory Be to the Father... Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.

O Sacred Heart of Jesus, for whom it is impossible not to have compassion on the afflicted, have pity on us miserable sinners and grant us the grace which we ask of you, through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, your tender Mother and ours.

Say the Hail, Holy Queen and add: St. Joseph, foster father of Jesus, pray for us.

Prayers for our brother, that his journey be safe, that he find his spirit revived, that his search for employment be fruitful and rewarding.