Blessed Josephine Viannini and the Rogue Yak

Blessed Josephine Viannini was a late 19^th century religious from Italy who was asked by Blessed Louis Tezza to form an order to help care for the sick that were unable to pay for care. Well, as any good servant of God would do, she prayed over it and answered “yes”. She marched off to do her duty and saw her congregation spread to other countries. Her feast day is February 23.

My question and perhaps anyone could let me know is this: How do you know God is telling you something? Was it a bolt of lightning for Josephine or a small voice whispering “Yes, this is My will for you.” Did she open up a fortune cookie with the message of “Yo, Jo. I really need you to look after My children.”

Knowing my propensity for mind wandering, it will have to be a large yak running in front of my car during a radio commercial for insurance as I speed down in Atlanta traffic at quick 15 miles per hour. I also struggle with the concept of God’s Will. When do I need to accept God’s Will or as my late father (the Poet Laureate of southeast Texas) would say, “Poop or get off the pot.” In more sophisticated terms, when do I let go of my indecisiveness and let God maintain complete control?

I know he is always in control but where does my free will fit in? My little voice is usually only good for which flavor of coffee creamer should I get that week. And those conflicting Bible verses? It’s sometimes a nightmare for the most scattered of brains? 2 Timothy 1:7 tells us "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." And then I find "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble" in Psalm 46:1.

How did Blessed Josephine interpret this conundrum? Was she more spiritually open to God? I don’t think so. I think we all have the capacity to be closer to God. Maybe she quieted herself and then the answer came. I need to turn off the radio while driving and stop looking for the rogue yak. Then God will visit and we’ll have a great chat.