When I was 18 I (very) briefly considered applying to Sion Youth, but decided against taking a gap year so as to avoid the university fee increase the following year, and then forgot about it for three years. For the first two years at uni I fell heavily into the trap of thinking the high-flying graduate career was the only way to go. Everyone around me was ambitiously aiming for the top spots in banking, medicine and whatever careers would bring in plenty of money and plenty of opportunity for prestige and promotion. My own plan was to move to London, study for a PhD and eventually become a Clinical Psychologist.
But God had better plans...
As I entered my final year God completely wiped my plans, almost overnight. I became increasingly aware that I was being called to take time out for Him, but had no idea what form that might take. I prayed, and waited, and prayed, and waited, but I didn't feel any clearer about what God was asking of me. So I took the situation into my own hands and started to consider and even apply for various opportunities to serve Him.Eventually I had planned out a whole year's worth of courses and mission which, although Christian, had come from my own research rather than God's guidance. Without realising it I'd fallen back into the trap of mapping out my own life without giving God control.
Of course, God was aware of what was happening even if I wasn't, and He knew He had to drastically take back control. In a worship session at a retreat I went to over Easter, I felt Him urging me to lie flat before Him. In a relatively small worship space where everyone else was standing and dancing, this inevitably meant standing out from the crowd and making myself vulnerable. I wrestled with God for a long time, but eventually gave in. As soon as I hit the ground I felt God saying:
"Now you're ready to see my plan for you!"
But God had better plans...
As I entered my final year God completely wiped my plans, almost overnight. I became increasingly aware that I was being called to take time out for Him, but had no idea what form that might take. I prayed, and waited, and prayed, and waited, but I didn't feel any clearer about what God was asking of me. So I took the situation into my own hands and started to consider and even apply for various opportunities to serve Him.Eventually I had planned out a whole year's worth of courses and mission which, although Christian, had come from my own research rather than God's guidance. Without realising it I'd fallen back into the trap of mapping out my own life without giving God control.
Of course, God was aware of what was happening even if I wasn't, and He knew He had to drastically take back control. In a worship session at a retreat I went to over Easter, I felt Him urging me to lie flat before Him. In a relatively small worship space where everyone else was standing and dancing, this inevitably meant standing out from the crowd and making myself vulnerable. I wrestled with God for a long time, but eventually gave in. As soon as I hit the ground I felt God saying:
"Now you're ready to see my plan for you!"
I have no idea how much time passed, but when I got up from the floor all of me was saying 'SION'. It was such an utterly unexpected revelation but at the same time brought so much peace that I had no doubt it was from God. The more I prayed about it, the more certain I was that this was the right place for me. Though my journey to get here over the last year has been long and tiring, I've learned so much about God's unfailing power and love.
I feel so privileged to be able to be taught, moulded and guided in a Catholic setting - where everything I do is centred on Christ Himself in the Eucharist and the rest of life falls into place around it.
For me, Sion Youth isn't a 'gap year', it's a lifestyle. It's a key part of what I pray will be a whole life lived for the Lord.
I feel so privileged to be able to be taught, moulded and guided in a Catholic setting - where everything I do is centred on Christ Himself in the Eucharist and the rest of life falls into place around it.
For me, Sion Youth isn't a 'gap year', it's a lifestyle. It's a key part of what I pray will be a whole life lived for the Lord.
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