Lessons from the desert

By Laura Thompson

A generation-x journey in and out of religious life. This is an autobiography of my spiritual journey seeking God and finding myself.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Laura Thompson
• Release date: Jan 29, 2012
• ISBN: 9781476259826

Laura Thompson

A writer and freelance journalist, Laura Thompson won the Somerset Maugham award for her first book, The Dogs, and is also the author of the critically acclaimed biography of Nancy Mitford, Life in a Cold Climate. Her most recent book, The Six: The Lives of the Mitford Sisters, was a national bestseller.

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Lessons From the Desert: An Autobiography

Smashwords Edition

Published by L. Thompson at Smashwords

© April 26, 2011

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

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Contents

Introduction

First Steps

Being human

Among the lepers

Prayer

Discernment

Cultivating Faith

Primacy of Christ in the Eucharist

Koinaneia (community)

Caritas (caring)

Fraternitàs

Poverty

Chastity

Obedience

Final Thoughts

Sources

INTRODUCTION

As a child of Vatican II, the years of elementary education were a tumultuous time in the Church. In eight years of elementary education all but one of my teachers was a lay teacher, but religious sisters did administer the school. I would say I was not greatly influenced by any particular religious community until years later when I entered graduate school. But my maternal grandparents had a great love for St. Francis and as a child he was one of the few saints I could immediately recognize. As I entered my teenage years, my life would be scarred by emotional issues that would have long-term effects.

When I graduated high school I felt I didn't want to go to college. This was mainly because at that time I was interested in veterinary medicine and it seemed like a lengthy process. Since 1985, I have had eleven jobs. I began doing clerical and secretarial work soon after high school. I began an undergraduate degree in liberal arts. When I finished my BA, I went on to graduate school to earn a master's degree in secondary education. Soon after I began teaching, I felt a strong desire to re-connect with my Catholic spiritual roots. In 2000, I began teaching in a Catholic school after completing formation with the Secular Franciscans. My time of formation with the SFO lead me into spiritual direction and later counseling as I spent a great deal of time reflecting on my childhood, my personality and my relationships with others.

Most of us are spiritually starving. We spend our lives searching for fulfillment…only to feel angry and empty. But do we recognize this? This journal is an attempt to reflect on that spiritual journey.

FIRST STEPS

I began my official Franciscan journey in 1998. I first thought that my choice to enter a secular institute was a good compromise with God. Since I was a child, I felt God was calling me to religious life… and I dreamed of becoming a nun. As I said, I don't think was because of any personal contact with nuns…but more a desire to fill a deep emptiness that nothing else seem to fill. My high school years were