Who Will I Be? (10/25/2023)

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of a long conversation with a mother of four about Halloween costumes. I didn’t realize what a big deal costumes were in the world of today. As she explained how she’d gone on E-Bay to get a Kool-aid pitcher costume and made small pumpkin costumes for her youngest, and how her oldest was torn because all her friends were going as different versions of Barbie, I thought back to my own children’s Halloween costumes back in the late 70s and early 80s, how we cobbled them together with whatever we had. I admit feeling guilty. Later, as I reflected on my day, this conversation came to mind, and I found myself asking, “Who will I be?”

There is a lot in life we don’t get to choose: families we are born into, physical traits such as height, place of origin, God-given talents. But there is so much more that we do get to choose. And one of our choices daily is “Who will I be?” The way I use what is given to me including my time and talents, the way I spend my life and talents, where I go, with whom I go, these are all things I choose. And my goals, my dreams – they are mine to choose as well. “Who will I be?”

I’ve come many miles and years from the 12-year-old who went trick-or-treating as the Ace of Spades. I was blessed along the way by so many invitations to use my time and gifts for others. Through those invitations, I became more open to the LORD’s call to be a disciple, to be a servant of the LORD. Today, I can’t imagine being anything else. From where I stand, I can see how far the LORD’s love and my love of the LORD have brought me. And I can see that each time I said, “Yes,” it got easier.

We are all called to be loving servants of the LORD, to use our lives and our gifts not only for our own benefit but also for the benefit of others and for the growth of the Kingdom of God. We are all called to be instruments in the LORD’s ongoing salvific mission, bringing Christ to others and others to Christ. Some of us will do it as teachers and catechists, some as servers and servants, some as leaders of groups, some as dedicated followers, some as cooks, some as spiritual guides, some as parents, some as healers, some as shepherds of faithful. “Who will I be?” Only prayer, time, and choices will tell.

As we continue our journeys, fed by the Spirit, called by Christ, to life in abundance from the Father, let us be aware of the opportunities in our daily lives to pick up the apron of humility and serve the LORD. Let us be open to using our time and talents in service to our loving LORD as well as to our sisters and brothers along the way. Let us be people of loving service in the divine design for humanity.

Until tomorrow, let us all love well.