Leap Anyway (09/18/2024)

Often in my life, needs or challenges have arisen in the course of my prayer or my participation in Christ’s ongoing mission to which I hope to be a servant. They scare me. I have to be honest. I’m an easily scared person. But I get this nudge. I’m pretty sure it is the Holy Spirit. And even though I am not 100% comfortable with the step I’m being asked to make, I turn it over to the LORD, and I leap anyway. I raise my hand and volunteer, or I sign up for real, life changing challenges. And it has made a world of difference in my life.

An example of this would be becoming a youth minister and director of faith formation. I was new to Tipton, Iowa. My husband and I and our children had moved in April of 1978. We were hardly settled when the pastor paid me a visit. He told me he needed a youth minister and director of faith formation for the rural parish, and he was asking me because I was the only member of the parish with a Catholic Education. I felt that nudge. And I leaped anyway. And for eight years, I led the faith formation for youth and adults at our rural parish. I was so scared, but every step of the way, the Spirit was with me.

Another example of “leaping anyway” would be the idea that I needed to pursue a doctorate degree. The idea came up, of all times and places, when I was at a diaconate conference in New England in 2004. I had a great job heading up five offices at the Diocese of Madison including director of lay and diaconate formation. I didn’t think I needed it. But the Spirit spread it before me and nudged and nudged. So, I finally acquiesced and applied to the University of St. Mary of the Lake and was accepted.

And for 2 years, I drove every Monday from Madison, Wisconsin to Mundelein, Illinois and took a day off for classes. I worked hard to complete all my assignments. In the meantime, I left my positions at the diocese. Then the summer after I completed my academic work, Mundelein Seminary sought me out and offered me a job as associate dean of formation and pastoral theology assistant professor. And that night I knelt before the LORD and gave thanks for that nudge and the grace that allowed me to leap anyway.

It isn’t just major decisions when the Spirit nudges. It happens in minor decisions as well. It happens at parish functions when a need arises and no one else will raise a hand. And the Spirit nudges my elbow, and my arm is in the air before I know it.

One of my all time favorite movies is “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade” with Harrison Ford and Sean Connery. It was made in 1989. I actually incorporated the test Indiana had to complete to save his father in faith formation sessions at times because it illustrated what I have come to understand. At times we are asked to take that leap of faith, to step out or step up even though we are terrified. In the movie, it is only when Indiana steps off of the ledge and out that he can see the land bridge that spans the chasm. And I have found, in my life, that it is only when I step out, when I leap anyway, that I am granted the full view, that I can see where the Spirit is leading.

The lives of disciples, I believe, are filled with “leap anyway” moments. We are challenged by the Spirit to answer a call, to step into the storm, to raise our hands and to offer our help. We are asked to do this even though the thought of doing it concerns us, scares us. But the Spirit nudges. There is purpose in the leap. Only through it will we discover what great things the LORD has in store.

As we continue our journeys of faith, hope, and love, let us be open to the Spirit’s guidance, and, yes, even to the Spirit’s nudges to go where we are sure to be challenged. Let us leap anyway knowing we do not go alone.

Until tomorrow, let us all love well.