Here I Am, LORD (12/12/2025)
- Dr. Kate Wiskus
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
It was the spring of 1987. I was in church for Sunday mass with my family. And the hymn selection was “Here I Am, LORD” by John Michael Talbot. Something amazing happened to me during that song. I found myself crying. The words moved me. And my “I will go, LORD, if You lead me” was my surrender that the LORD had been negotiating for years.
Recently, I shared that at a point in my twenties, when I was reeling from several disappointments in life, I stepped back in my faith, I stepped away. I strayed. But the LORD sent me a good shepherd who found me, who saw me and my pain, who heard my questions and assured me. And I made my way back through his care. I volunteered to teach faith formation the following year. And then I was asked, when we moved to Iowa, to take responsibility for faith formation in our rural parish. The priest who asked me told me he had no one else with a formal Catholic education. So, I said yes. And I served in that capacity for 8 years.
Then we moved to Wisconsin. I was going to step back, but they were desperate for catechists. I said I would teach a class. I was given one of four 10th grade classes. Then, the director called and asked if I could take a second group at the same time because no one had volunteered. I agreed. Then the director called back. “No one else has volunteered for 10th. Will you do the other two classes combined at the second time slot?” And suddenly I was the sole 10th grade teacher. The LORD and I spoke often about this situation. And then that Sunday came and that hymn hit me in a way I’d never known human words to hit me.
The next week, I contacted our parish and asked if I could apply for the coordinator of the junior and senior high programs. I got the position. And for the next several years, I coordinated those programs for our large parish. Then I left to go to grad school to get my master’s and hopefully doctorate in scripture studies.
Then after I earned my master’s and was working on my doctorate, I kept waking up in the night, hearing my name being called. My husband asked me what was on my mind when I woke up. I told him the parish program for youth. I finally discerned that I was being called back into youth ministry and faith formation. So, I withdrew from my courses, wrote my resume and was ready to send it out when I got a call from my parish, my pastor asking if I could put my studies on hold and return as director of faith formation. And I understood. The LORD had been calling my name. And I had heard Him calling in the night.
That return to faith formation led to the bishop asking me to accept a role with the diocese. And my diocesan roles and responsibilities opened the door to my being asked to interview for a position at Mundelein Seminary and University of St. Mary of the Lake. And the LORD has repeatedly shown me that I am part of His divine design. I give thanks to Him daily.
I thought of this all and how it unfolded recently when I was asked to do a podcast with Yingyee Herman for The Fearless Catholic Woman. I am attaching the link below if you want to hear it.
The LORD calls us all. He has more than one mode of doing so. Not everyone will experience what I have experienced. I have experienced the LORD’s calling in more than one manner – it is not always the same. But the LORD calls us all to bring what only we can bring to His ongoing mission. As St. Francis of Assisi once said, “If the Lord can use me, He can use anyone.” And daily, I echo St. Francis’ words. I think the LORD wishes to use each of us in His essential, ongoing, life-giving mission.
Is the LORD calling you at this time to a specific area of His mission? Listening and saying “yes” can change more than your life. May we all be open to the LORD’s call that comes to us in as diverse ways as we ourselves are diverse but with one purpose, His will for us individually and collectively. LORD, I pray, make us instruments of your peace.
Until tomorrow, let us all love well.