I was visiting a church to take a rubbing, and as I wandered through the aisles, I fell beneath the cross. Not because I had been struck by some Holy visitation, I simply tripped, not paying attention to my feet. As I felt the cold tiles through my clothing, I had to wonder if I had tripped by accident or some higher purpose.

As I left the church, I felt a hand on my back, gentle and warm. I spun around to see who had touched me. No one stood behind me, yet I could still feel the touch.

Reaching home, the first thing I did was take a shower to wash the weird feeling from my back. I let the water run for a long time, but the feeling remained for three days. I am 24 years old and have never felt religious, yet I found myself reading the bible. The idea of becoming a priest slowly growing inside me.

Who or what had touched me I cannot tell, yet it sent me on a path I had never thought of. I am now a part of something bigger than myself. I had gambled my short life with God and lost. So now he has me.

I have joined the priesthood…

Anita Dawes 2018