Anyone else thinking of a radical change?

Dear friends,

At this time at the beginning of tribulation and an enveloping anti-Christ system. At a time of political, social and economic difficulties and with prospects of every increasing totalitarian control in 2021 - is anyone thinking of a radical life change? Does anyone feel called by God to take risks and walk on the waters of Divine Providence?

I say this as I am praying about retiring from teaching and my wife from nursing. We cannot afford it of course and still have 8 years of mortgage yet to pay on our home (so will need part-time work). I am in early stages of this thinking and there are many obstacles mostly financial but you only live once and God is greater than our debts. There are many unanswered questions - do we sell up and rent? Do we stay in the same village? etc. Are we radical enough to live by Divine Providence?

At the minute I am only thinking out loud. But I am taking it to our Lady in prayer and asking for the help of St Joseph. I would appreciate thoughts and prayers.

God Bless you all
I often pray for the intentions of everyone on the forum.

 

You're not alone Garabandal. I think prayer is the answer to hear the Lord's call for each of us. Like Samuel, let us all ask Him: "Speak Lord, your servant is listening."

God Bless.

 

If this a calling from the Lord, I pray God finds that path for you.....
I would love to have the financial means to help you.

 

I heard The Holy Spirit tell me at mass to start a rosary group. I even remembered asking Him.....if this is really you Lord, tell me again....and He did...clearly!
I did that day after mass and we’ve been meeting weekly for five years ...maybe six now. We’ve had many blessings because of it, not to mention the unseen spiritual graces we may never know. God put together a group of women that have been there for each other . It’s a spiritual bond that God had planned years ago. To have ignored that request to form a rosary group would cause us to lose graces beyond belief. What a gift He gave us all! Thank you Jesus!

 

If this is the Lord's will you should have complete peace about it.

With current financial commitments this might work best if you move to a cheaper house. Maybe move to a more rural area, which one of my Facebook friends did a while back. They bought some land and built a house. They have a LOT of animals and they aren't rich. If it were me (which it obviously isn't) I would move to a state with a Republican governor, having seen what happened in Minneapolis last summer. Perhaps it's time to build small communities which share an outlook and can run their own schools, live off the land, etc. A bit like the pioneers of old.

I'd be a bit worried about finding part time work. Biden's crowd will undo a lot of Trump's succesful policies which created jobs, and there could be more unemployment, with more people looking for work. Just a thought.

 

God speaks if you listen. I have been posting some relics online, you have probably seen a few of them. I have also posted them on FB. Trying to send good things online . . .maybe a grace will follow them and clean up some of the bad vibes on the Internet. There is a little job out there for everyone, even if it just to pray.

 

Don't rush into anything. Wait a while and pray a lot. I would explore all options other than renting. Maybe downsizing would be an option for you. If so, when doing the sums, remember to factor in conveyancing costs - it nearly always works out higher than anticipated. Don't know which jurisdiction you're in. If it's the Republic, I hear that there are new rules which make preparing the paperwork for selling a real headache.

I will pray that the Lord shows you the way.

 

Garabandal,

In discerning this life-change I think it would be important to ask what your support network would be. It appears the highlight above is a prime motivation for making such a choice. It that is so, I would hope a network of like-minded friends is crucial. It's not the best of times for the two of you to play "Lone Ranger". Since staying in your current village is among the options, you probably think this way already. Are having to deal with governmental pressures in your current occupations part of the nudge you feel? Is there any rural setting where these pressures would be less invasive. And of course access to a faithful pastor and sacramental life should be at the top. Sorry, I'm simply writing as the thoughts come; I'm revealing what a true scatter-brain I really am! Another choice you might want to do is find some like-minded friends nearby. I remember during the Y2K scare, Geralyn and I discussed and made plans with 5 or 6 other families (though obviously nothing happened).

But today I agree that the government will be tightening the screws on us all! May Our Lady wrap you in her Mantle of loving protection!

Holy Spirit, grant us all the gift of Your Wisdom!

 

I am hoping to quit my job as a nurse. The hospital is having mandatory training in the spring on white privilege and sensitivity and I want no part of it. I am certain there will be anti-Christian sentiments to it as well. The hospital is very proud of its Gender Health treatment division (they do sex changes on kids as young as 8) and I feel I can’t have anything to do with them anymore. I do not work in that division but want nothing to do with the hospital anymore anyway.

 

Live as if you will die tomorrow, but plan as if you will live to be 100.

We don't know what is going to happen or how fast/slow things will move. Don't do anything you wouldn't normally do if we were in a "normal" situation. Especially if you are married and/or have children. In those cases your first duty is to provide for them and that is living as we are supposed to as Catholics.

 

For a couple years my sister and I have been wanting to move onto land together with our families (two houses on shared or adjacent land), but we can't seem to find the perfect place yet with our limited finances and being tethered to work in the big city (my husband is a mechanic that works on public transportation light rail). I have a firm confidence that God will put the property into our hands in His perfect timing, as this desire to move to the country has been growing and growing in our hearts and minds for years.

On the other hand, here in the suburbs, we've made some connections that will be hard to leave. My next door neighbor is a Christian with two sweet little girls my kids' age, and my son takes violin lessons with a traditional Catholic young woman who holds her lessons in the parish hall of a Latin Mass parish. So while my other kids and I observe his lesson, my kids get to feast their eyes upon beautiful Catholic statues and art. It's such a comfort to me each week. I suppose we could still make the drive if we move, but it'll go from being a 15 min drive to nearly 2 hours. There's just no other way for us to afford land than to get way out of the city.

Since I'm somewhat equally torn in whether to stay or go, I leave it in God's hands for now and try to not worry much about it. My life changes have been eliminating all TV, modern movies, and radio other than Christian music (made these changes when my oldest was a toddler), more family prayer time and quiet reading time, leaving Facebook for good, and beginning the First Wed/First Fri/First Sat devotion with my husband and kids.

 

We all think about this sort of thing from time to time I think because to a large degree we have been living in a situation in which we are all in bondage to one degree or another. That said, we all have to make the best of things as they are.
I would be less apt to leave your situation and more apt to actively look for opportunities for charity and helping others less fortunate or enduring hardships from the current situation. Those of us who are blessed to be employed and still somewhat stable in our economic situations can help to be a lifeline to those who are struggling.

 

Thanks for the sound advice. I'm in Ireland though.

 

Excellent advice D. I'm in the north of Ireland.

 

Bondage hits the nail on the head, Don. Sound advice.

 

Another thing to discern in all of this -- is my desire to make a radical change a reflection of my will or God's will?

 

I was thinking that. I think that’s why Dolours said not to rush into anything.
We’ll pray while you pray

 

I reckon that a lot depends on age, state of health, dependant children or parents as well as the finances. A place in the country sounds ideal. The downside would be distance to schools, hospitals and especially Mass. Given the current obsession with reducing greenhouse gases, fuel prices will probably keep rising and electric cars are very expensive.

With the decline in vocations many rural parishes may not have a resident priest as older priests die off. Cities and large towns will be more likely to have regular Mass and Confession. My preference would be to move to the city, preferably close to a monastery but at least close to a church. Then again, if religious orders suffer a serious decline in income and vocations there's no guarantee they will hold on to buildings which are expensive to maintain but would fetch a high price on the property market. At least in a city or large town public transport is an option for getting to Mass even if turns out that Mass is on the far side of town.

 

First pay off your mortgage especially as God has provided you the means and work to do so.

Be sure your wife is really supportive of taking risks and wanting to “walk on the waters of Divine Providence.”

Don’t put God to the test.

Don’t substitute your own thinking and understanding for how God operates.

Be prepared to learn how to really carry your cross.

Do all for the glory of God.

And if God chooses to honour or reward you, accept it.

Know also the God’s love for you is constant and always greater than your sins.

Try to utilise your teaching skills. It’s a gift not to be wasted.

Be humble, be patient, be prepared to be surprised – and keep life simple.

Most importantly, be prepared to see your family suffer in this life because of your commitment.

Know that there is always work to be done, even close to home.

Don’t create a grandiose ministry dependent on donate buttons.

Don’t let you ministry become a business. Let God be God.

As for the timing in making your decision to “walk on the waters of Divine Providence”…

Thou shalt know him when he comes
Not by any din or drums
Nor by the vantage of his airs
Nor by anything he wears
Neither by his crown
Nor his gown
For his presence known shall be
by the holy harmony
that his coming makes in thee.
anon

 

A friend sent this to me, and perhaps it applies to your dilemma as well-

To all of the parents out there:

Don’t feel sorry for or fear for your kids because the world they are going to grow up in is not what it used to be.

God created them and called them for the exact moment in time that they’re in. Their life wasn’t a coincidence or an accident.

Raise them up to know the power they walk in as children of God.
Train them up in the authority of His Word.

Teach them to walk in faith knowing that God is in control. Empower them to know they can change the world.

Don’t teach them to be fearful and disheartened by the state of the world but hopeful that they can do something about it.

Every person in all of history has been placed in the time that they were in because of God’s sovereign plan.

He knew Daniel could handle the lions den.
He knew David could handle Goliath.
He knew Esther could handle Haman.
He knew Peter could handle persecution.
He knows that your child can handle whatever challenge they face in their life. He created them specifically for it!

Don’t be scared for your children, but be honored that God chose YOU to parent them! Teach them God's love and to share it with everyone!
Rise up to the challenge.
Raise Daniels, Davids, Esthers and Peters!

God isn’t scratching His head wondering what He’s going to do with this mess of a world. He has an army He’s raising up to drive back the darkness and make Him known all over the earth!!!

Don’t let your fear steal the greatness God placed