Traffic Signs

I was driving to work a few mornings ago. I typically have this pattern that I follow... Certain lanes I stay in that yield the quickest route from home to work. Having had a lot on my mind lately, I have not been fully focused and have ended up in the wrong lanes. Sometimes I am in a lane that is a straight lane instead of a turn lane, and that one move ends up changing my whole route. When my route gets changed—a few things can happen. One is that I end up stuck in the main stream of traffic. And even though those roads may be the most direct route, because SO many people are traveling them during rush hour, they are at a dead stand still. Another thing that could happen is that I discover a new and faster way. Or, perhaps it takes the same amount of time or even longer, but the scenery along the way is new and different.

It got me to thinking… if we paid more attention to the signs as we were approaching intersections, we could make sure that we took the most direct route to where we wanted to go. But then again, sometimes we would miss things along the way. And, we might miss finding the hidden way that no one else knows about.

I guess this is somewhat the way I view life, and how God makes the best of every situation. Sometimes we have learned the most direct route already by using the resources given to us. In travel—a map. In morality—scripture and studying the lives of holy people. And other times, we may know a route that has worked for us in the past, but perhaps isn’t the BEST way… maybe those are the times that God jumps in and calls our attention elsewhere so that we will discover new, uncharted territories.

Have you ever met a person or had an experience that called you out of your comfort zone? Yet, for whatever reason, you really enjoyed the activity, experience or person? My life has been full of those. Each of you who is reading this blog and countless others who will never see it have broadened my mind and heart by sharing yourselves and your passions with me. For my birthday this year, my friends Bill and Aleks Turner took me to Panama City to scuba dive. I had never been before, but always wanted to learn, and Bill was kind enough to teach me. My friend Alfred came to learn too. Alfred and Aleks packed this delicious beach picnic. Alfred is a wonderful chef, and that day, by observing him, I learned how to take a picnic and “kick it up a notch”—BAM! I also learned that scuba tanks are incredibly heavy! And if Bill hadn’t shown me how to drag it into the water and then put it on, I would never have been able to get it on my back.

In all our interactions with people, we are constantly learning. Like sponges, we absorb others ideals, cultures, knowledge, etc. It doesn’t mean that we have to adopt these things, but we increase our exposure by sharing experiences. An example would be the scuba tanks. In time, I might have figured out that I needed to drag the tank to the water to make it more buoyant. But by listening to Bill’s experience, I was able to get there much faster. And I am sure Bill learned that from a scuba pro, who learned it from another, etc.

I am an advocate of exposing oneself to as much of the world as possible, but keeping those around you who are of like moral value. Because whether or not we want to admit it, birds of a feather do flock together. So to all you wonderful people who have been a part of making me who I am today by sharing your uniqueness with me—I love you and I thank you! For being willing to share the gifts God gave you! You never know how many lives you impact.

Suggestions?

I am looking for suggestions...
If you were moving half way around the world for a year and could only take a small suitcase and a backpack, and this had to include all your clothing, shoes, toiletries, etc. You can't have a cell phone. What items might you pack to remind you of home but not make you homesick?

Prayers

Please pray for me. I just received my information on how to pack for next year. In true disciple style, I can bring one 30" suitcase that weighs less than 60 pounds, a backpack, and a sleeping bag. That is it. Everything, including shoes and toiletries must fit inside. I am far from being a "girlie" girl, but even I will need divine assistance getting everything into a bag that small.

The word of the day is... detachment.

Preparing for a spiritual gestation period...

My friend Angela is always talking about how we shouldn't strive for happiness because happiness is fleeting. But rather, we should seek joy and peace in our lives. That all encompassing feeling of contentment in the life we live and the choices we make.

Today is an interesting day. I am up at church helping with a youth retreat, and it reminds me of my younger days involved with the youth group. I miss those days gone by. There are people here at church that I have known for 10 years. As a matter of fact, September 21, 1997 is what I would consider my "spiritual birthday." It was the day I turned my life over completely and fully to God, asking him to be my Lord.

So it only seems fitting that this 10 year anniversary brought an opportunity to "get away with God" as I began my preparation for the mission field. With the thought of leaving in the forefront of my mind, I have been contemplating how much we take for granted. At any moment, I can reach over and give my best friend a hug. I can laugh with my friends and look at their faces. In less than 2 months, I will be half way around the world from them. I won't be able to see their smiles, reach out and touch them, or give them a hug. The thought of this makes tears well up in my eyes. As a matter of fact, I can't think fully about all my blessings because it overwhelms me and I will not be able to stop crying.

But I have spent much of the morning wondering what the true tragedy is... is it that I will miss them when they are not near me next year? Or is it that they have been here the last 10 years or more, and I didn't take every opportunity I had to tell them or show them how much they meant to me?

Perhaps it is a little bit of both. It's unfortunate that we don't always fully appreciate what we have until we are faced with losing it. I hope this year will teach me a way to live in the moment and to truly be 100% present to each situation. I actually had heard of this theory of "Full Engagement." It is to be fully engaged in each sitaution you are in, rather than mentally being elsewhere. For example, when sitting in mass, be 100% present, rather than making a grocery list in your head, replaying last night's discussions, thinking of a stressful situation at work, etc. Or actually tasting the food you are eating instead of just swallowing it while you watch tv. Or appreciating a phone call from a friend. Next year, with the 14 hour time difference and lack of cell phone, the opportunity to get to chat on the phone with friends will be limited.

I don't yet know what God has in store for me this year. I suppose in some ways I look at it like a pregnancy... a period of growth that is accompanied by discomfort, and at some times excruciating pain, but you know it is totally worth it because of the incredible gift of a new person at the end of the process. You don't know who that new person will be, but you know that they are a gift to the world and will touch the lives of many.

I would like to ask for prayers as I continue to prepare myself for next year. That I can be the best person I can be and give 100% of myself to the youth we work with. And pray, as I have begun to, for all the people we will encounter along the way. That God would open their hearts and prepare them for what we have to offer. And that God would open my heart to all they have to offer. If nothing else, life has shown me that they will gift me with far more than I could ever hope to offer them!

So please... your continued prayers. And in the meantime, if you see me and we embrace-- that hug will have to last me all next year-- so don't think I am such a freak for holding on a little longer than usual and maybe shedding a few tears. :)

About NET Ministries

NET Ministries (NET) is a ministry directed towards high school youth, college students and youth working adults. The ministry is expressed through retreats, workshops and leadership training seminars.

During the past eighteen years, NET has served many dioceses throughout Australia and New Zealand, positively impacting the lives of some 400,000 young people. That is many lives that have been challenged, changed and hopefully protected from some of the more tragic experiences of which young people are too often the victims.

One of the distinguishing features of a NET team is that it is made up of young people (17-30 years old). Following five weeks of training, the teams embark on ten months of ministry to the youth of Australia.

The NET ministry is characterized by a clear presentation of the Gospel message that challenges young people to place God first in their lives and develops concrete ways they can grow in their faith.

Often the students we work with are severely hardened due to a lack of love, broken families, and drug or alcohol misuse. By working near the ‘front line’ as we do, we continue to see God’s action as he touches lives with his love.

The funds raised are used to provide a personal stipend, training in youth evangelization, formation in Christian character, countless opportunities to share my faith, food, accommodation, medial coverage, pastoral supervision, ministry supplies and over 5 weeks training intensives. Each teammate will also be raising the same amount.

NET does not receive any government funding. NET is able to charge modest fees for its services in schools, dioceses and particular churches.

The annual cost of NET Ministry is less than $550,000, which funds 40+ ministry workers and has an impact on 30,000 lives each year, including over 10 administrative staff.

Please prayerfully consider supporting me and the ministry with prayer and financial support. Your donations are tax deductible. You can offer a one-time gift or a monthly pledge online.

In addition to raising the funds for my year at NET, I am responsible for my transportation to and from Australia. You can donate directly to this transportation fund by clicking the "donate" button on the right.

Your support gives the ‘green light’ for my Ministry work with NET. Thank you for your prayers and your generosity!

My faith journey calls me down a new path…

In May of this past year, I felt a strong calling to step back from the daily busyness of life and take an honest look at the life I was leading. When I paused and looked around me, I saw a loving family, loyal friends, a career that excites and fulfills me, and opportunities to give back to those around me.

I felt so abundantly blessed, yet I was keenly aware of an irritation in my soul—a gnawing feeling that there was something missing. Not only could I not shake the feeling, but I didn't want to. More than anything, I wanted to find the filler for the hole that was suddenly so apparent in me. So I began to seek.

I researched ministry and mission opportunities, and requested more information for one that seemed to speak to my heart- the National Evangelical Team, or NET ministry in Australia. Within a week, NET Australia had called, and after hearing more about the ministry, I politely told them I didn't think it was for me.

It entailed a year-long ministry commitment, requiring me to quit the job I loved, move out of my home, leave my family and friends, and spend a year traveling from city to city in a van with twelve other young adults. Much like the disciples, we would have no home. Traveling from parish to parish and ministering to young people, we would depend on parishioners to provide us with a place to sleep, food to eat, with our only funds being a monthly stipend of $80USD.

This was a little more than I was searching for, and while the idea of spending a year doing mission work seemed incredibly exciting, the idea of giving up the security of my job, the comfort of my home, the independence and freedom of choosing my day to day activities, and being halfway around the world from my family and friends for a year was terrifying!

But the woman from NET told me she had been praying over my application, and encouraged me to spend some time in silence with the Lord, further discerning. I told her I would, and after hanging up the phone I spent some time in silence. I made a list of all the things that frightened me. For the next two weeks, I prayed intensely. After much discernment, it seemed that I was scared to death at the idea of being completely alone and totally dependant as I surrendered all my worldly securities to Christ.

Christ has always been amazingly generous in my life, opening doors and providing opportunities to serve him while allowing me to experience incredible personal growth. Struggling in my discernment, a friend of mine suggested I ask God for a scripture and then a confirmation. So I did.

The following day, while praying in adoration, I received the following scripture:
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9

My confirmation came the following day, as God began to handle the items on my list of fears. One of my greatest fears was that God had gifted me in my career, and that I might be throwing that away by taking a year off for mission work. I discerned that yes, God does have great plans for me professionally, but what He desires of me now is a year of giving back. A tithing of my time, talent and treasure. A year spent in total and complete surrender—my total focus on Him and service to His people. An opportunity, by sharing my faith and trust, to witness to His abundant love, generosity and care for those who love Him.

I accepted the calling and will travel to Australia in January 2008 and stay through November 2008 doing mission work. As one of 40 young adults serving on NET Australia 2008, I will be working to plan and promote the 2008 Catholic World Youth Day in Sydney in July 2008. WYD is organized by the Catholic Church and is the largest youth gathering in the world, with over 500,000 young people in attendance. Young people from around the world gather to build bridges of friendship and hope between continents, peoples and cultures. Through the WYD experience, young people worldwide will make a pilgrimage of faith, meet, and experience the love of God.

Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more….

After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.'

His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!' Matthew 25: 14-30

In the past, so many of you have shared your talents with me. The genuine love you have shared with me has brought me to this place in my life. Now I would ask that you invest in me again. I seek your support in the form of intercessory prayer. I know next year will be challenging, and I need people praying for me to give me the courage and strength necessary for this exciting ministry.

I also invite you to support me financially. I am committed to raising $5400 prior to beginning my work with NET Ministries. While this amount does not cover the full expenditure during my time with NET, (total cost is over $13,000) it is a very valuable investment in a better future for thousands of young people.

I welcome and appreciate any support you are able to give.

My sponsorship target of $5400 can be achieved if I can find 30 generous people each willing to support me with a monthly donation of $20/month for 10 months or a one-time gift of $200. If you were able to support me in this way or any other level, I would greatly appreciate the opportunity you are giving me to have an impact in the lives of so many young people.

I will be able to keep you informed about the impact your support is having (NET Newsletters and updates from me) and give you peace of mind by showing that many young people will experience the Good News and thousands of youth will become more engaged in their church and community life.

Please prayerfully consider supporting me and the ministry with prayer and financial support. Your support gives the ‘green light’ for my Ministry work with NET.

Thank you for all you have done for me and continue to do. Your friendship and support are my life’s greatest blessing!