Hello Again!
Happy Tuesday! I recently worked in Youth and Young Adult ministry and didn’t have a lot of time to write. I felt a call to leave Youth Ministry, and I didn’t know if it was God or if it was me being selfish. I think the youth at the parish are amazing; they have such sincerity of heart. The young adults are amazing too, and that whole parish had such a sense of community. I love The entire Church, and have done ministry my whole life. It seemed the perfect fit at first… and maybe it was. But then it wasn’t. Reasons appeared that made it clear that I was to move on. I knew it in my heart before then, but it was so hard to listen.
Why was it hard to listen? Sure it might be about a big life change or the change of my plans. It might be about not wanting to admit that my body can’t keep up with certain things right now. It might be the love of the people that I worked with or the area, or someone telling me “never quit.” But the biggest issue for me is, I think, a misunderstanding of what it means to serve God. It was as if I, having training, was not working directly for the Church, I was not doing my duty for God.
But a lot of different types of jobs are Holy. Garbage collectors beautify the world. Grocers help others to survive — farmers and the general populace alike. Real Estate Agents help people find a safe place to raise their children… It takes all types.
I was always thankful for the existence of rich people because artists need to make a living. I am thankful for single people who have time to volunteer, and folks with jobs that are simple who have time to listen to the troubles of a friend or invite folks out and help them to feel part of something. I am thankful for married people with a ton of great kids who wish they had time to pray for others. I am thankful for those who aren’t able to do much at all but BE and pray. I think I am most thankful for these.
It isn’t only about our abilities, I think, but about Our Calling. And our calling needn’t be the usual definition of religious in order to be Holy. It might be, and that is beautiful. But it also might be something else that is also beautiful, and we can rejoice in that.
God is Truth, Goodness, and Beauty, and His presence permeates the world. This is the calling for some people: to write the songs that aren’t so obvious, to make the art… to clean the streets… to do those things that no one knows are sacred. And, yes, we are all allowed to relax some times too. Chillin’ is Holy. Spending time with others and appreciating the gift and the nuances of who God created them to be is Holy. Humor is Holy. Humans, created in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:27) are the only creatures that smile and laugh (and cry as well.)
God may call me back to paid ministry, and He may not. But the one thing I know is that I LONG to be part of the movement that speaks to the world of God’s presence in the world’s own language, and maybe it is necessary to have a normal job in order to do that; who kn0ws? Christ is here in the midst of all that is good. It’s just that not every one knows it yet.
May God bless your day.