Hello, Melissa? It's Me, God.

    I wrote not long ago about offering my gifts to my parish by facilitating a bible study. I wasn't sure I wanted to do it because I wasn't sure anything truly good would come of it. Would anybody appreciate what I had to offer? Would my talents be put to good use? Would I feel fulfilled? And then today during the homily, the deacon spoke about offering up your time, talent and/or treasure. He said that God has given each one of us talents, gifts, abilities and that our parish needs everyone to contribute these gifts. It doesn't matter what your gift is, he continued, whether it be cleaning, putting up shingles on the roof, distributing food to the needy, singing... This isn't the first time I've heard this message. The priest that used to serve at our parish would say the same thing, adding that you don't need a degree in theology to feel worthy, to feel useful. All I would hear was that my gift, my talent, wasn't necessary. Basically, that the priest and the deacon were singling me out by saying, "You're not special. Your degree doesn't mean anything." I said to my husband on the way home from church that I needed validation too, just as much as the person who offered their services cleaning or making coffee after Mass. I needed someone to tell me, "Hey, you're important and we value you!" 

     It was only when I stumbled upon a blog entitled Sharing the Pages of Life and watched a video that the host of the site, Stephanie, posted that I had my wake-up call from God.

 

    Stephanie quoted from Acts 2:42-47, when the early Church banded together to provide for everyone in need. No one was left wanting and their numbers grew daily. Stephanie comments that serving in the Church these days seems to be about doing what you want, doing what you're good at or doing what makes you feel good, rather than doing what needs to be done. She hopes that we can be like the early Christians who probably did a lot of things they didn't want to do but did anyway because there were people in need. And in the end, no one needed for anything. 

     Wow. Sometimes God taps you on the shoulder and sometimes, like today, He shouts.

     The bible study the deacon wants to offer the parish isn't just about me. It's not about getting a pat on the back or getting validation. It's about serving God, serving others and humbling myself. That's what serving means, as Stephanie points out. It's not about satisfying my own desires and boosting my ego but about ensuring that no one is in need. In this case, it means making sure my fellow parishioners find spiritual nourishment and someone to remind them that God loves them.