Hot Dogs,
High Fives, and Incense
A few days ago, we kicked off youth
ministry at the parish I serve at. Our theme this year is Fearless. I don’t
know about you, but this theme really resonates with me. When I think of what I
am afraid of, I will (reluctantly) tell you that I am afraid of swimming in
lakes at night and tickling…random, I know, but true nonetheless. There are
many common fears: heights, public speaking, death, clowns, confined spaces,
flying, loneliness…however, when really given a chance to reflect, do we not
have fear each and every time we lack trust? Are we not letting fear consume us
when we do not do something that God is asking of us? When we fail to love and
when we lack compassion? We closed our night with Adoration of the Blessed
Sacrament and were given an opportunity to lift our hearts to God, to Adore our
Creator’s greatest gift, and to let Him adore us—to let Him speak right into
our hearts to direct us in our challenge and our challenge is this: to allow
the Holy Spirit to consume our hearts so abundantly that we have to room for
fear, no room for questioning the grace that has been given to us, the love,
the blessings, the suffering, the joy…whatever it is, we are challenged to let
God consume us so freely and completely, that these things will be all we can
focus on. Even among the thorns of life, we will see the joy that God has laced
the challenge with. All of our bumps along the road are intended to draw us
closer to the cross, so that, as Mother Teresa said, we may be close enough to
the bowed head on the cross that Jesus can kiss us. It is in these moments that
we feel the weakest and our trust in God is challenged the most that we have
the opportunity to grow the most in the love of our Savior. I’m embracing this
theme in my personal life this year, facing things I never thought possible.
Will you join me in facing your fears and truly living out loud, fearlessly
following the will of God for your beautiful heart? Create two goals for this
month: two things that would challenge you to grow and blossom, right where you
have been planted. Stick to them for 30 days and see what fearless changes you
have made by the end. Do not tackle 10 things, just one or two at a time and
give yourself a month to firmly establish the habit. Post your two things below
to help create some extra accountability to stay on track. Fearless steps
eventually turn into fearless miles. You will have trekked cross country before
you know it!
Check out Isaiah 26:3-4 for a great scripture on trust!
