Life-teen update (05-27-2007)

One would think that according to certain laws of physics (which I freely admit to knowing absolutely nothing about) that the fewer events you have to plan, the less work you would actually have to do. No I am no physicist, but this concept makes a reasonable amount of sense to me. However, this law seems to have been violated just as soon as I decided that it must exist. As Life-teen and middle school youth group wind down for the year it would make sense that I would have slightly less to focus on and be able to just leisurely focus on putting together our summer activities. Instead I find myself busier then ever trying to get everything organized. I am not saying this to complain, just to point out how sometimes the work God has for us sneaks up on us and attacks when we least expect it. We are then presented with the choice to either take up God’s work or try to ignore it. I freely admit that sometimes I am a bit of a slacker. The result of this is that I don’t always do what God is asking of me. Most of the time it is much easier to just try to pretend that I didn’t hear God and that it is just a weird, irrational desire that will go away if I just ignore it long enough. While this may in fact sometimes be the case, sometimes it is not. As the English Author G.K. Chesterton once said, “The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and left untried.” It is far easier to just let go by the wayside than to actually pick up the torch and follow Christ. Especially when what Christ wants us to do is controversial. We then let ignore his call in the name of not offending anyone. I am not saying that we be intentionally offensive, far from it in fact, but neither should we shy away from the truth. The retreat we went to at Gonzaga this past weekend was a great witness to those who went of what it truly means to be Catholic. Unlike many other religions Catholicism is not a salad bar religion. You can’t just go down the line and pick and choose what you want to believe in and what you want to leave out. It is the whole package or none at all. Christ gave the Church the fullness of the truth and it is not up to us to call him a liar by saying that what he told us is wrong is really ok. Those of you who are choosing to go on the mission trip to the New Orleans area with me have also made a statement. You have chosen to say that you value helping God’s people who are in desperate need right now over working for that week of the summer. Some of you may have even been forced to give up working for the summer altogether. None the less, you have chosen to make a sacrifice for the kingdom of God and he will bless you for that choice. If any of you are interested in helping us helping us fundraise just let me know. God bless you all this summer and know that you will be in my prayers.