When we look at the imagery of a caterpillar entering into a cocoon to emerge after a while as a butterfly, beautiful, with greater potential than ever before, we can compare that with our own lives. For many of us, we are in places of transition or in places intended, just like the cocoon, to form us into the beautiful people who God has intended us to be. Our cocoons are the schools that we attend, our jobs, our parishes, our communities, our families and even our friends, all of which form us into the people who we eventually become.
We must, however, remember the fundamental differences between our lives and the life of a butterfly. For one, our lives are filled with choices (caterpillars don’t choose to become butterflies, its automatic). We on the other hand have to choose how we are to live out the rest of our lives, whether we decide to become doctors, lawyers, accountants, engineers, or dare I say it, priests or religious. The choice is ours.
Another fundamental difference is something that I was reminded of while speaking to a friend sometime ago. He said to me “why do we always think of our vocation as something that is to come?” Unlike the caterpillars, we are not dormant while we are being formed into who we are to become, our Catholic vocation begins from the point of our baptism and we are called to live it for the rest of our lives. The vocation may evolve over time as we grow older and wiser and as God gradually reveals his plan for our lives. We do not need to wait until we decide to get married or decide to enter religious life to start living out our Catholic Identity.
For me, my Catholic Identity has always been at the core of my being and my decision to enter religious life is just another step in the same journey. It was in the midst of living out the vocation to be a child of God that He was able to reveal to me His plan for my life. Now I do not know where this road will lead, nor do I know what lies ahead but one can only stand at the edge of the cliff for so long before you either decide to take the leap or walk away. I was never one to walk away.
Another friend said to me “The worst thing that can happen is that you decide that it’s not for you and you leave. But the best thing that can happen is that you realize that this is for you and you are happy for the rest of your life.” In my view, the important thing is that I have opened up myself to the Lord’s will, (never a bad idea) something that everyone should have the courage to do, but not everyone does.
One of the hardest parts of taking the leap is uprooting myself from all of the work and ministry that I have been involved in and in particular, Vision.
This, being my last issue as editor, I would like to thank the readers and contributors to the magazine for the support shown over the years. I would also like to thank the team members both past and present for all of their effort in bringing the magazine to where it is today. My prayer is that the team is able to continue to forge new paths in the ministry of Vision. I also pray that God grants the new editor, Kwame Weekes the graces and fortitude to rise to the challenge of taking the paper forward.
I also extend my best wishes to Bishop-Elect, Msgr Jason Gordon, who has been a source of guidance and support for me, as he also begins a new phase on his journey. May he continue to be a light, radiating God’s love to the people of St Vincent and Barbados.
To Archbishop-Elect, Fr Joseph Harris and the Archdiocese of Port of Spain, I wish all the best in the mission of building a civilization of love here in Trinidad and Tobago. May this year enable Catholics across the country to truly rediscover and come into an appreciation of their Catholic Culture & Identity.
To the friends and family who have been my support system, my cocoon, forming me into the person who I am today I also wish a heartfelt thanks. All I ask is that you continue to keep me in your prayer as I keep you in mine. May we all continue to live out our vocation to be people of God and have the courage to open ourselves to His will everyday of our lives.
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