“Use Me” (02/12/2025)

We had just moved into the neighborhood, my husband, three kids, and myself. I was trying to get settled when there was a knock at the back door. When I opened it, a man of small stature wearing a large smile greeted me with “Hello, I am one of your neighbors. My name is Fr. Shimek.” And I felt welcomed.

Fr. Shimek was a retired priest in the diocese of Rochester/Winona. After his retirement, he moved to his old family home, set up a shop in the small garage, and began making stables for nativity scenes. He invited the children and I over to pick one out as a “welcome” gift. We chose a rather large one. In fact, my son actually could climb into it. It was perfect for the nativity set my mother had given us.

Fr. Shimek and I visited often during the two years we lived there. He shared many stories with me. He told me that when he’d retired, he was looking for another way to serve and realized that his name sake, St. Francis of Assisi, was attributed with creating the first nativity scene. And he decided to build the stables in his time to share with families in the town.

Fr. Shimek also shared his vocation story with me, how he’d prayed to the LORD for guidance and offered himself to the LORD as a servant. He told the LORD to “use me,” and he felt the LORD daily spurring him on to do good for the LORD’s glory and in service to others. When he shared his story, I recalled how I’d met him. He’d gone out of his way to welcome my family to the neighborhood. I could tell that the LORD had taken Fr. Shimek seriously and that Fr. Shimek had meant it.

Fr. Shimek’s example is one that I will never forget. It was shortly after that conversation that when the parish in Austin announced that it needed catechists, I said the “use me” prayer inspired by Fr. Shimek. And that year I began a path of service to my LORD and to others.

Fr. Shimek taught me that part of my prayer when I bring the matters and concerns of my family and neighbors and the world to the LORD needs to be my offer to the LORD to be part of the answer. “Use me.” And the LORD often does. My efforts haven’t been earth shattering or headline worthy, but as Fr. Shimek taught me, the only One who matters knows.

As we go forward on our journeys, let us be willing to offer ourselves to the LORD as part of the LORD’s solution to the problems we bring. May we be willing to utter, “Use me” and mean it with all our heart.

Until tomorrow, let us all love well.