Laura and Megan enjoyed meeting a new friend this week on the podcast. Anna shares her beautiful “heart story” from her missionary experiences in India and other foreign countries, meeting Regnum Christi and now serving in the ministry of spiritual direction. She shares how both types of contemplative and missionary experiences are all wonderful adventures with God, who loves us so much.

The summary of her experiences is found in Isaiah 43:1 “Do not be afraid, for I have redeemed you; I have called you, you are mine.” This unshakable trust now leads her to live life with an abandonment to God, as she says “Bring it on!”

Besides being a spiritual director, Anna also engages in speaking about her experiences of missionary life and finding within the ordinary, extraordinary purpose. To find out more please see her website: https://www.missaest.org/

This week, Megan invites one of her closest mom friends and Regnum Christi sister, Amber Starr. Amber shares with us her story–from when she joined ECYD as a young girl to how her relationship went from knowing about God to loving Him and following Him through the twists and turns of life. Similar to climbing a mountain, Amber shares how the landscape can seem the same, but as you deepen into the heart of Jesus, you gain a better perspective.

Megan quotes C.S. Lewis’ Last Battle to describe this experience: "This is the land I have been looking for all my life, though I never knew it till now. The reason why we loved the old Narnia is that it sometimes looked a little like this…. Come further up, come further in!”

In this episode, Megan and Amber share the beauty and sacred mission of motherhood and how, through it, they are sanctifying themselves, their families, and the Church. Truly, they are building the Kingdom by serving and loving as wives and mothers.

After a short stint away, Megan and Laura are back in the swing of things with our lovely guest, Maddie Nagel! Maddie joins us from Atlanta, Georgia where she is serving as High School Campus Minister.

Maddie shares with us how by listening to God’s voice and following His lead through the circumstances of her life she was brought, in His perfect timing, back to the very place she had given two years as a Regnum Christi Missionary.

We enjoy swapping stories about how God works through the circumstances in our lives, ever leading us on, even if it seems mysterious what He is doing. Waiting on Him, trusting Him, and holding on in hard moments, lead to the places the Good Shepherd has prepared for us.

Enjoy listening to Maddie share how she is giving the RC charism she received as a young girl to other young people. As Pope Francis said in his letter to young people on November 9, 2023: “Dear young people, do not be afraid to share with others the hope and joy of the risen Christ! Nurture the spark that has been kindled in you, but at the same time share it. You will come to realize that it grows by being given away!”

Show notes:

The song “Available” Laura mentions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjIY4UKGl-Y

To learn more about our Regnum Christi school, Pinecrest Academy, visit: https://www.pinecrestacademy.org/about/welcome

Another poem mentioned in the podcast:

Lead, Kindly Light, amid the encircling gloom,
Lead Thou me on;
The night is dark, and I am far from home,
Lead Thou me on.
Keep Thou my feet;
I do not ask to see the distant scene;
one step enough for me.

I was not ever thus, nor prayed that
Thou shouldst lead me on;
I loved to choose and see my path; but now
Lead Thou me on.
I loved the garish day, and, spite of fears, pride ruled my will;
remember not past years.
So long Thy power hath blessed me, sure it still
Will lead me on.
O'er moor and fen, o'er crag and torrent, till
The night is gone;
And with the morn those angel faces smile,
Which I have loved long since, and lost awhile.

-St. John Henry Newman