A few weeks back, I had a few work obligations that were canceled. So, I prayed for work and God provided. That weekend the temperatures dropped considerably with snowy conditions. I needed to travel to Ann Arbor one day and then continue to Lansing the next. As a thank you for the answered prayer, I decided that I would definitely attend Adoration and Benediction on Tuesday evening no matter what. Well, God put me to the test on my promise to see how important it was to me. 

Like I said, the weekend had dropped in temperature, along with snowy conditions. My drive throughout the weekend was not pleasant either day. Then on Monday, my car would not start, so I had to reschedule an appointment and cancel my volunteer work. Later, my car was jump-started. I thought I was good to go. 

Tuesday, my car died again with no one to jump-start it. The sun was out, but it was only about 10 degrees. I could have skipped Adoration, but decided it was worth the effort especially since God had answered one of my prayers. So, I did what came to mind. I had a warm parka, boots, hand and foot warmers, etc. I would make a pilgrimage. I knew I wasn’t going to make Benediction because it’d be dark when it ended, so I went to Adoration in the afternoon. 

It was cold, but I was bundled up and I actually felt comfortable in the conditions. I made the trek to the church. The terrain wasn’t the best in some parts, but I managed it. Not long before I arrived at the church, it occurred to me that Adoration might be canceled due to the inclement weather. What was I doing? What was I thinking? I had come too far to turn around now. I kept on. Within 40 minutes of my start, I had reached St. John XXIII only to find a note attached to the door. It said something to the effect of: “Adoration and Benediction are canceled today in the church, but the chapel is open.” Really?! Just my luck. 

You need a code to enter the chapel and I normally do Adoration in the Church. I hadn’t been to the Chapel in a while, so would the code I have still work? Yes, the code let me enter the chapel. It was then that I noticed a text alerting me to the cancellation I saw on the church door. For a moment I could only laugh. I was pleased that I made this journey; after all, it was in appreciation for what God had done for me. He had tested me and I prevailed in what I said I would do. I spent an hour there, then made the trek back home. Although the walk was around three miles in total and in such weather, I was glad to have made the pilgrimage to the church that Tuesday.