Ever wonder what your purpose of life is? I do. I more so wonder if maybe that I have more than one. It may be the philosopher within me that brings up this very question, but more importantly, it is the events that take place in my life that lead me to this question. In fact, I know that I have more than one purpose in my life, and am positive of at least one of them.
I feel that I am called to volunteer. More specifically, volunteer within my church, helping to mentor the youth. Although it is something that I am not getting paid to do or receiving any physical form of compensation for doing, it is something that I love, and I know I am receiving something even bigger in the end that is priceless.
For those of you that haven't been able to already tell, I believe in God, but more than that, I am a Catholic. No, I am definitely not a perfect Catholic, and do not always agree with certain things, but I'm Catholic and I am proud of it (you would be too if you went to my church, because it is pretty much awesome!). I have dedicated some of my time to helping out within the Youth Ministry program at my church and have been apart of this amazing program for the past couple of years; left to finish school, came back home, tried to get my life started and in order as an adult (still trying), and now I am back again helping. Let me tell you, I missed this group of people, and I missed helping to lead and help mentor these teens called Peer Leaders that volunteer within the program; that are just as dedicated, involved, and love doing what they are doing.
The confirmation program that we offer at our church is amazing, and it involves not only activities, classes, and events for the students, but also a retreat that they go on before they make their confirmation. This is where the amazing Peer Leaders, Young Adult Leaders, Adult Leaders, and I come in. Now, I already know what some of you are thinking, "we're a bunch of Jesus freaks, that sit around with crucifixes, praying and shouting bible verses at people on the street, yelling 'Praise Jesus!', and that everybody who isn't doing what we're doing are going to Hell for being sinners!"... If you were not thinking this, thank you in advance for not being judgmental, and if you did, I don't blame you. After everything you hear and see on TV, and in the media, it is easy to make quick judgments such as these.
For some clarification though, we do believe in God and his son Jesus Christ, but will never force it upon you if you chose to follow a different religion, if you just don't believe, or you choose not to believe for whatever reason (everybody has their reasoning's and I respect that, just as I would expect them to respect my own). You may see some of us wearing necklaces, and yes and a cross may be hanging from the chain. We wear them proudly because it is a symbol of our faith, and a symbol of a very powerful sacrifice that was made for us all. However, we will never wave it in your face and yell rants of bible verses at you if you didn't wish to hear them in the first place. Lastly, we will never judge whether or not if we feel you're are going to Heaven or Hell. Only God can judge and make that final decision. We just make sure we are doing what we can personally for our own judgement day, and to be better people for ourselves and and an example for others around us. I hope I have clarified some confusion, and am always open for discussion. I'm happy to share my thoughts and hear yours. (Hence why, one of the reasons I have a blog)
Now back to my calling I was speaking of... As I had mentioned previously I have volunteered for my Youth Ministry program for a number of years now, and I love it. Not only am I helping the teens that go through this program evaluate their spiritual growth and journey with God, but more so I am helping to change a life possibly. It is amazing to hear and see what some of these adolescents have to go through on a daily basis, and to hear sometimes that they have nobody in their life that will listen or help them through a struggle that they may be going through. I just want to be that one person that is there for them. I want to be that moral support for them, to accomplish a goal that everybody else in their life said that they could not accomplish. I want to be that listening ear, that actually listens to what they have to say, and what they are feeling that nobody else would take the time to stop and listen to. I want to be that one adult in their life they feel that they can trust and go to for support, because every other adult or authority figure in theirs have either failed them or broken their trust somehow. Again, I just want to be that one person that is there for them. If not me, than hopefully the Peer Leaders that I help lead, who volunteer for them, can be that one person.
The feeling in itself of knowing that you have helped somebody within their life is an amazing feeling. You may have even helped or changed something in some body's life and never know you did. Later down the road, you may run into that person randomly, ask how their doing, and they may thank you. Know also that they may not thank you, and just tell you that they had made some changes. This is the humbling part of this whole service. You may never get a "thank you". However, just seeing that they are doing better, and knowing that you may have had something to do with those changes in their life is thanks, and reward enough for me. Volunteering in this program is such a great experience, and it is hard to describe exactly why I love it so much or the feeling I get when doing it. One just has to experience it for themselves.
 |
| Just a few throw backs of people who I have worked with in the past... this isn't even close to 1/2 of them though. |
I may not know what every purpose in my life is yet, but I am sure of at least one... I try to help make a difference by volunteering as a youth mentor.
