Life in vocation

13 July 1993 Lisbon, Portugal Young Sr. Adelina stared out the window of her room. The clear blue skies outside shimmered like gossamer in the summer sun. Nature seemed to hold out a colourful palette as her eyes swept across the garden beneath; setting off its speckled green against the azure. The scene outside seemed to reflect her picture perfect past years as a Franciscan Hospitaller sister. It had been her greatest satisfaction that her natural gift for illustration art had been put to much use in the convent; contrary to her initial fears that, as nun, she must relegate the talent to the backburner. “Art, art and more art,” she wondered. “What more? What next?” In her heart, she knew that there must be more that she could do besides simply seeming to find a place for her talent, despite the vocation she had chosen. Just that afternoon over lunch, the Superior was recalling excitedly about the immense appreciation Sister Adelina had received for Her name was Libania, an illustrated biography of the Mother’s life. A little over a month ago, the book had been released amidst grand celebration to mark the 150th anniversary of the birth of Mother Maria Clara. The artist in Adelina had had her fill that day. Besides, for the first time, she had also been acknowledged as a promising author. The cheers of the crowd, the glee on the faces of the school girls who loved her and personal compliments that were heaped on Adelina hung upon her like thick smog. Since then, a strange sense of inadequacy had filled her days. She felt someone call her from beyond the haze that overwhelmed her. What was this voice saying? And the more Adelina tried to make out what this message was, the more floundered she felt. She made her way to the Blessed Sacrament. And there, while she was in deep prayer, she felt the presence of someone very familiar. She knew it was Mother Maria Clara. (Have you faced a similar plateau in your vocation or apostolate? Consider here, what Mother Maria Clara would have advised Sister Adelina, who felt what she was doing was comfortable but not enough. Now, refer to Question #9 and provide your response, using a real-life situation.)