Who We Are

I worked an actual 8 hour day today, by which I mean I was in the office for eight consecutive hours.  I understand that normal people do this all the time, but I am not a normal person.  I am a youth minister, and my “full time” job is actually only supposed to be 30 hours a week.  It’s worth pointing out, too, that I’ll be working fifteen hours on Saturday, and actually, pretty solid times for the rest of the week too.

I am tired, and cranky because of my ankle (did I mention I sprained my ankle two weeks ago?  Yeah, I did.  And it’s aching right now). I worked an eight hour day, changed into sweatpants, poured a glass of wine and plopped down on this couch, intending a nice, relaxing night of Netflix and knitting.

Now, however, I have turned off Netflix.  And I started working.  As in for my job.  I am planning the large group session entitled “God’s Call to Each of Us”.  This is what I was planning to do tomorrow at work.  Why am I voluntarily doing it now?

This. –> http://newsinfo.nd.edu/news/33741-nd-vision/

I watched the video, which several of my friends had posted to Facebook.  Sometimes, that sort of thing fills me with a vicious longing for the college days gone by, for the summer I had 60 best friends, for the pink hair, for the purpose, for the feeling that comes with being a part of something larger than myself.  And yeah, okay, there’s some of that tonight.

But mostly, one phrase stood out to me: vocation is not so much about what we do, but who we are.

I am struggling right now with what I do.  I don’t know if my job is the best fit for me, if my career is the best fit, if I am doing what God wants me to.  There is a lot of very, very green grass on the other side of several fences.

But I will figure that out.  And in the meantime, through the stress and long hours, I am called to live in charity and patience and longing for Christ’s will.

And before this spurt of wisdom passes, I should probably write the Proclaim for Sunday.

Seven Quick Takes: Community Edition

1.  It is 9:07 am here in Wisconsin, and I am sitting at a campus coffee shop enjoying a hot coffee beverage.  I had a lovely catch-up phone call with one of my best friends last night, and she determined that cold coffee is not allowed to be a morning beverage.  I pushed for 10:00am.  She countered with 11:00, and I think that is where we either compromised/stalemated.  Either way, it’s hot coffee for me and a good mood left over from the kind of wonderful conversation I don’t have enough these days.

2. I am not working today.  Well, other than sending an email or two, which I REFUSE to let count.  Other than that, I am working pretty much the whole weekend.  Yay me.  I am going to not go in until Monday afternoon, and spend the morning with a friend and her little son.

3.  I am getting a lot better at mornings than I used to be.  It’s a combination of sunlight and coffee, I think.  And sometimes working out.  But mostly the skylight and the lovely, lovely coffeemaker my grandma gave me.

4.  It’s sinking in that my lovely sister moved away.  I understand that I moved first, but she moved farther.  I’ve been doing pretty well at seeing her every month or two anyway, so this is going to be rough.  I’ll be seeing her for the ND/Michigan game next month, but after that?  Not until Christmas, I think.  Thank heavens for Skype.

5.  Here is a well-thought out essay that really resonated with me, and my current thoughts on the political process: http://blogs.nd.edu/oblation/2012/08/23/a-eucharistic-critique-of-the-american-presidential-elections-a-proposal-for-authentic-faithful-citizenship/.  I have really been tempted to throw in the towel these past few weeks.  I don’t like any of my voting options at the moment, and reading Facebook is starting to be painful.  I have a few FB friends who are at opposite ends of the political spectrum and posting meme after meme after attack ad and it’s making me want to lock the two of them in a room and see who comes out when it’s all over.

I mean that in the most Christian way possible, of course.

6.  A couple of the former high schoolers I got to know being a mentor for ND Vision are now at Marquette.  Two met up with me today to chat.  I really love the community that Vision fosters.  As a way of continuing that community, and encouraging more growth in faith, Vision has launched a blog!  Check it out at http://blogs.nd.edu/fullofgrace/.  I recommend it.

7.  8 days until Notre Dame football!

Here Come the Irish!

As always, go see Jen Fulwiler, the Quick Takes Queen.