Seek and You Will Find

By Monk Rob Regimbal

“Ask and it shall be given to you; Seek and you will find... for everyone who asks receives...”
Matthew 7:7

For quite some time now I’ve been in a spiritual wasteland; suffering from a famine of the soul. I’ve been starved by the never-ending pandemic, the incredible pressure of keeping a workforce safe and healthy (and employed). My family life has required all of me. As support to my wife Rita, through the loss of her dad to Covid in November 2020, to the immense responsibility of caring for her elderly mother whose deteriorating physical condition has required more and more of our family’s devotion and sacrifice, to the painful ancestral healing work that we’ve been called to undertake. So, it’s been a period filled with sadness, anger, confusion, and exhaustion. How is it possible to encounter the Divine during all of this, to feel inspired and connected to God?

When Padre Paul invited me to write for this blog on August 11 , I had no answer. But as I

reflected on why that was it dawned on me that I had stopped looking for that connection and that experience with the Divine. In effect, I was content to be lost. So I accepted Padre’s invitation and opened myself up to having such an encounter.

On August 27 , Rita and I set out to join our daughters for dinner after a long day of helping them settle into their apartment before the start of their Fall semester at the University of Toronto. As we left our hotel, we noticed a young mother with her infant child and young daughter begging for money. Rita asked me if I had any Canadian money to give, which I provided. As Rita approached her with our offering, the young women broke down into tears of gratefulness (as did we). As we walked away, I mentioned to Rita that I hoped the young mother would put the money to good use. Rita reminded me that we are called to serve with love and compassion and to accept and expect that in that spirit all works out as intended. The next day we saw this young woman with her children sitting on a bench near our hotel. She was beautifully dressed, and radiant. We recognized each other immediately. Rita asked her how she was feeling, to which she responded- I’m doing so much better, thank you.

To some this encounter may seem trivial. But for me it was deeply inspirational and healing. I encountered in the young woman and in Rita, God’s grace and sweet compassion. Two of His amazing angels. All I had to do was to ask and to seek, and it was given to me!