The Tar Heel Knight

Greetings from the mountains of western North Carolina.
 
I was inspired after today’s Mass, on the 3^rd Sunday of Lent, to share a chapter of my personal story.  Sometimes it is easy to feel insufficient to undertake what God is calling you to do.
 
In the 4^th chapter of Exodus, Moses is reluctant to the call of God – he states, “I have never been eloquent…I am slow of speech and tongue.”  In these moments, is it ourselves we are doubting, or are we doubting God’s ability to work through us? 
 
I go back to late spring of 2004 for my story.  I was sitting in the pew with Tonya, and Father John, our pastor at the time, made an announcement that he was looking to hire a part-time faith formation coordinator for Pre-K through 12 (there was already an overall faith formation director).  At that point in my life, my after-work hours were dedicated to community theatre and a raunchy NSFW comedy troop, my college background was in theatre, and, like so many, my education in the faith stopped with my Confirmation.  I had done some volunteering in the parish – as a lector, with the parish dinner theatre, and I had been asked to help create a live Stations of the Cross with the Youth Group because they knew of my theatre background.  I could argue you could have found a better candidate than me using a dartboard.  For some reason, though, I felt in my heart that announcement was made for me.  I turned to Tonya and mentioned that I felt I should do this, but I just knew I wasn’t right for the job, so I did nothing.  Next week, the announcement was made again, and I had this strong feeling that I was supposed to do this.  But, I didn’t know nearly enough about the faith…how could I be in charge of children’s faith formation?  Then, the bargaining came in…if he is still announcing this after 4 weeks, I’ll go ahead and apply.  So when he made the announcement for the 4^th straight week, I told Tonya “I think I’m going to apply for this.”  I was definitely feeling called to do this…yet, continuing to try to argue with God’s call, I applied, thinking more or less that applying would satisfy what God was asking me to, but that I would never be hired.  I definitely didn’t know how God worked back then.  Father John contacted me and, I paraphrase, “I don’t know if this is going to work, but people seem to like you, so we’ll try this on a temporary basis,” and then he asked me to sign up for Lay Ministry classes, which I did.  A few months later, the director resigned and I was suddenly the head of Faith Formation for the parish.  Four years later, I was called on to help start a Knights of Columbus council in the parish.  In 2011, I received my Masters in Religious Education after taking online classes and, that same year, I became the charter Grand Knight of Council 15265.  My life had completely transitioned over a period of 7 years and I have continued to grow closer to the Lord every day since.
 
I share my story because I have faith that there are many like it.  If the history of our Church teaches us anything, it is that our Lord has a propensity for choosing the unlikeliest of candidates to do His work.  There is probably someone in each and every parish who feels unqualified and insufficient, but whose spirit will be stirred by an invitation to discipleship.  When you invite a man to join the Knights of Columbus, you may be the one who starts that stirring in his heart.  If you see someone in the pew and think “he’s probably not a good candidate,” that might just be the man you want.  Let the Lord work through you to call more disciples to Himself.  God doesn’t call the qualified; He qualifies the called.
 
And, if my story stirred up any feelings in your heart, perhaps it is God calling you and asking you to take your service to the next level.  If you think this is a possibility, even if you are fighting those thoughts kicking and screaming, please reach out to one of us on the State Council and say that you think you may feel called to serve at a higher level.  You will be taken seriously.  We are looking to mentor and train the future faith and service leaders of our state.  Might that be you?  Even if you “have never been eloquent” and are ‘slow of speech and tongue,” it just might be.
 
We are now just over a month away from the State Convention in Hickory.  We are planning a wonderful, faith and fun filled weekend for you and your families, and we look forward to joining you.  Please make sure you fill in the Safe Environment gaps in your councils this month, so that we reach 100% compliance by the Convention.  As of this writing, we are still under 60%.  We owe it to our children and vulnerable adults to do better.  If you have any concerns or questions, please reach out to me.  Send me an email or leave me a voice mail and you will hear back from me within 24 hours.  Also, get your form 1728’s in, so our State Warden and General Program Director can review them, so you have a chance to make any corrections before it’s too late.  I want to see you all recognized for the Stars that you are.
 
“My God will fully supply whatever you need, in accord with his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:19
 
Vivat Jesus!