Hello World!
I have finally caved and joined the blogging masses. I don't really think that I have anything incredible to say, but I do believe that I have an incredible God who is doing things in my life that are worth sharing so here I am. Last summer, I sat on my balcony in the sun and wrote in a journal, praying that God would use the summer time to draw me close to Him and reveal something about Himself to me. I told Him I would spend lots of time with Him (which I didn't) and be an active listener (which I wasn't) and put Him first (which must have been code for top of the list after getting a tan and sleeping). Suffice it to say- I failed Him. But God did not fail me. I did not live up to half of what I told Him I'd do and God in His merciful, loving grace STILL chose to draw closer to me and reveal things about Himself to me.
That's where this walk began. Last July was the first time I interacted with a community that is part of the Catholic Worker movement. The short, insignificant interaction I had with the people in the community was the catalyst for a major perspective shift. Throughout the year, I have been exploring and seeking what it means to be part of a community and how to be more self-sacrificing. I look at my life and I see an overwhelming abundance and simultaneously an outrageous greed. I have always thought of myself as a caring person who has a good heart. But lately I have gotten to know my heart, and there is nothing good about it. My heart lusts after so many selfish things whether it is new clothes, more money, professional success, a better car, or a shiny new MacBook. None of these things are bad necessarily, just totally and completely selfish. I have clothes (more than I need), a secure income, a great job, a car that runs (most of the time) and a computer that has all the essentials. I should be happy right? But no, I get caught up in the endless pursuit of more, more, more.
Then, I read Nehemiah. There is something in his story that has arrested my heart right now. I have read and re-read it in the last few weeks and still am struck with a new piece every time. First, it was the way he dropped everything in his life to do the work God set before him, to build his wall. Then, it was his persistence in his mission and the way that he offered up every obstacle to God and then got back to work. Lately, it has been his sacrifice. While building the wall and re-establishing the city, Nehemiah didn't take anything for himself but offered up his own provisions for the oppressed and marginalized people in his community. I'm still in the assembly stages of what this means for my life, but the challenge is clear, and I have accepted.
Thus I am starting this blog, trusting God to give you some kind of story that will be worth reading. I am headed to Denver this summer to be part of a Catholic Worker community there, and can't wait to see how God is going to use that setting in whatever He is up to. Please be praying over me that I will have the heart of Nehemiah as I walk into this next adventure.
Grace and Peace to you all!
~Kate
