All in his time

This past week has just been stressful. And believe me, being in a foreign country completely on your own, although an incredible experience, is not easy.

And it definitely has not been easy for me. Through trying to make friends and be social (a feat that everyone who knows me well knows is a hard thing for me to do) to working on learning the language and the culture, missing my family and friends, and just trying to figure out who I am and what I want out of this year, it has brought me down significantly.

All the pictures are beautiful, and all the smiles are there, but the struggle never really goes away. After a week filled with stress and hurt and problems, I finally sat down and asked myself, what is it that I'm doing? What is it that I want, and why can't I seem to get there?

Before I found the answers however, I remembered the private tour I took with a few friends through the Duomo, the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Flower in Florence. A priest gave us a free tour and entrance as members of the American Students Catholic club here.

Father Don Marco told us about the inside of the church. Although it was absolutely gorgeous and intricate from the outside, once inside, the Cathedral is less spectacular. No frescoes on the walls, no elaborate statues lining the inside. Very simple and plain, a huge contrast to its extravagant outside.

he told us that the reason for this was that it was meant to be plain, the architect designed it that way, and for a very specific purpose. The inside of the Cathedral is bare, because the congregation is meant to fill the church, and the faith and love they have for Jesus in their hearts will be the decorations, and they will make the church much more beautiful than any painting or sculpture could.

And then he said it. "Nothing is ever coincidence. Everything means something."

Everything means something. Our lives are constant battles, no matter what your location is, and it all is a part of God's plan, because nothing for us, as his creations, is ever coincidence. I would be rich if I had a euro for every time someone told me to just wait it out, that everything was going to be okay. And I know that they're right. Because God will never leave me, no matter how many times it feels like he isn't there.

Every fall is a learning experience, and it will always lead to something better. I know this is true because I have seen it countless times in my life. I may be struggling, hurting, and confused right now... but soon I will be happy, carefree, and moving on.

It may have a been a bad week, and it may still be really hard, and I may feel really really alone... but at least in the back of my mind I know for sure that all of that is not a coincidence, I just have to trust that whatever comes afterwards is going to be the best part.