From a Word from Becky, my monthly newsletter to my readers
Dear friends,
God often speaks to me in images in prayer. Sometimes offering me an image that will guide me for years. One image that God gave me that is part of Ignatian Ministries birth is the image of the parting of the Red Sea.
This image first appeared in my prayer in 2019. It first showed up as an image of Jesus and me sitting on a hill looking down on the Red Sea. Jesus and I would talk and share about all kinds of things. One topic was the growing sense of mission I felt welling in me. I would talk to Jesus on that hill about all the things I noticed and heard. At times, He would point things out to me. There was always a sense of being prepared for a mission as we spoke.
On May 20, 2019, I woke up and prayed early in the morning. That morning, the image began as it had for many months prior. Jesus and me on the hill overlooking the Red Sea. Suddenly, Jesus stood up and walked to the Red Sea and invited me to follow Him. We stood at the edge of the water, and the waters parted. He began walking through the Red Sea and invited me to follow Him. As I began to walk, I could sense there were people walking behind us. I did not know who they were or why they were there. I did know that I was called to follow Jesus.
That day was significant because hours after this image appeared I stood on a stage in front of many of my ministry colleagues at NCCL and offered a day of reflection at the annual conference. When the NCCL team invited me to offer a retreat, they told me it was risky. They knew a retreat had never been offered as part of their conference, but they believed in me.
At the start of the retreat day, the entire community of colleagues prayed over me. They wrapped me in a circle and offered their prayers. Diana Maciantal led the community in a “Blessing of Fire” over me. My heart fills immediately with hope even as I type this. The prayers of my community transformed me and gave me courage to step forward.
That day the Red Sea parted. Jesus invited me to boldly step forward in following Him on a mission to bring people to Him, and to trust the unexpected ways I was being invited to do so. At a conference. In online settings. Even now, the Red Sea remains a significant symbol of Ignatian Ministries mission. It reminds me to trust Jesus, to follow Jesus. It reminds me I am not alone.
I return to May 20, 2019 to savor the gift of consolation and the felt sense of being surrounded by community. I could feel the community lifting me up in prayer, encouraging me, and calling me forth to share my fits. My body still tingles at how present God felt in the gathered community.
My hope and prayer with Ignatian Ministries is that you feel this same sense of support I felt on May 20, 2019. The community that day supported me in taking a step forward. Ignatian Ministries’ birth happened because people around me showed up and kept supporting me to say “yes” to God’s next right step.
So come and let yourself be supported by our team at one of our offerings or by participating in one of our collectives or joining our community launching this fall. If there is another type of collective you are interested in, please don’t hesitate to share your idea with us. We have a few other ideas marinating as people have heard about our collectives!
Know I pray in gratitude for you each day!
Peace,
Becky
Photo from Becky’s personal pictures
Becky Eldredge
September 11, 2023