I used to feel a little envious
of St Paul.
God spoke to him
on the road to Damascus
in a way that so direct,
so clear.
Why couldn’t God speak to each of us
in the same way?
Wouldn’t that make our spiritual lives
so much simpler,
so much more straight-forward?

Only recently did I realise
that I have already had
my “road to Damascus” experience.
It came at a time in my life
when I felt quite desolate.
One day, when I wasn’t even at prayer,
I heard a voice saying softly,
“You don’t have to be perfect.”
“Yes, I do!” I countered.
“No, you don’t”, the voice replied, gently.
Then, for the first time in my life,
I felt the love of God.
I felt absolutely immersed in that love,
a love that felt eternal.
And, for the first time in my life,
I felt that I loved God in return.
I was totally overwhelmed
and was reduced to tears.

Looking back,
I realise that this was my own, personal
“road to Damascus” moment.
I am convinced that,
like St Paul,
I have been called by God
to give witness to my faith,
but it’s on an infinitely tinier scale.
I feel called to bring
a little bit of God with me
into every situation
in which I find myself.

I have had my “road to Damascus” moment
and it has changed my life
forever.

© Claire Murray, 28th January 2017