I don't know if it is politically correct to say so, but Happy Lent! I hope that everyone got all of the partying out of them over our retreat, Valentines Day, and Mardi Gras :).
Since coming home from our retreat (which was absolutely amazing!), things have really picked up speed. On Tuesday my supervisor formally offered me a job for after I finish my DV year. I was flattered by such a strong display appreciation for what I have been doing here at Casa. I have a week to let her know my decision, and I am doing my best to give it due consideration. I am still leaning towards teaching in the fall, but I don't want to overlook this opportunity.
Then, yesterday we had people over to interview for the 2 open casework positions . I am sooo ready for them to begin and get settled so that I can pass on to them and the current caseworkers all of the things I am doing that the caseworkers should be doing.
Currently, I am swinging between the two extremes of wanting the future to come now so that I can begin the rest of my life and really needing extra time (I don't know where it is going to come from) to think and pray about and plan and work towards the rest of my life.
This leads me into my 'Facebook status' that Stefanie forgot to ask me about. I think my status would say something like "Casa and Genesis House: Temporary homes, preparing for the future" (fyi, Genesis House is the name of my community). In both Houses/Casas, people are in transition. A common phrase at Casa is that we are "preparing the children for permanency." Even though Casa and many of its employees have been around for a long time, we try to always recognize that the children's lives are on hold while they are in our care and that our goal is for them to be better prepared for the next part of their lives.
Similarly, Genesis House is the formation house for the Dominican Sisters of Houston. As Sr. Pat likes to say, we are the "revolving door community." People are in and out, year to year if not more frequently. This gives the sense that, while we have a good community now, it is not a lasting situation. While I do think that both Casa de Esperanza and the Dominican Sisters of Houston will be a part of my life even after this year is over, I also have a strong feeling that where I am now is not permanent.
In all truth, not too many things in our lives are or will be permanent, but right now I am especially in-tune with the fact that my current situation is temporary. It also remindes me of what Lynn Allvin said at Orienation, that we are voluntarily displaced during our time of service.
In light of my (much longer than I had anticipated) post, I challenge you, my fellow DVs, to share your experience of being in ministry and community temporarily and as a voluntarily displaced person.
On a similar note, I would like to hear what other people are doing for Lent, especially for the accountability. My action for Lent is that I am going to set aside time every day to pray and listen to God.
Many blessings during this Lenten season!
With Love,
Kristen
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Thoughts on the Feast of St. Agatha
St. Agatha is one of the many early martyrs of the Church, dying in Sicily in the persecutions of one or another vindictive Roman emperor. We know next to nothing about her beyond this. However, we do know that she has a special patronage for bell makers and against sudden fires and breast cancer, among other things.
Her “story” sounds like it was ripped strait from the Grimm Brothers and written in Latin: a secret Christian during a persecution who was the victim of a corrupt local governor. Said governor, like all the best B movie villains, gave up a fully developed character long ago for better access to one or more vices. In this case, the governor (who has a name, but it’s not that important) consists entirely of lust. Poor Agatha was variously imprisoned in a brothel, the governor’s private chamber, and actual dungeons, and at one point even lost her breasts as they were mutilated off as one more psychological, physical, and sexual abuse at the command of the lecherous governor. Despite all that, she would neither move from Christ nor give herself over to Governor Lusty. She gained everlasting life sometime around 250 A.D.
There are two questions I have to ask whenever I read a story about someone like Agatha. The first one is “Who was the real Agatha?” I mean the truth is I, like most people of our era, can’t get enough of the whole notion of “based on a true story.” I love reading nonfiction stories about marines and spies and other real people who lived and died on this world. I’m also genuinely shocked whenever I read a headline suggesting that there are new historical findings that shed light on some figure from the past. In one sense it is a good and noble thing to seek the truth and reject anything that rings of falseness. In my ministry I tutor kids and I want an accurate idea of what that kid needs to improve in his or her class. It does me no good to hear “He’s a good kid,” that’s not facts to work with, that’s a story.
And yet, as Christians one of our core beliefs is the rejection of knowing the “whole story” until God chooses to reveal it to us. So, my second question is, “Does it matter?” Maybe Agatha was plain-looking, rounded up with the whole of her nameless community and executed. Maybe she almost gave up and renounced only to receive strength and support from an unknown source. Maybe she really was a beautiful maiden that a lusty governor could not defile. Does it matter?
More and more I realize that answering God’s call means finding your identity in God. I may have never thought of myself as a teacher before this year, but that’s where God seems to be calling me now. Do I think this plan makes sense? I’m not sure yet. I don’t think Agatha signed on specifically to pray to God on behalf of bell-makers, Malta, and those afflicted by fire and breast cancer. But that’s how she serves God and the Church. May it please God that we may follow her example.
Her “story” sounds like it was ripped strait from the Grimm Brothers and written in Latin: a secret Christian during a persecution who was the victim of a corrupt local governor. Said governor, like all the best B movie villains, gave up a fully developed character long ago for better access to one or more vices. In this case, the governor (who has a name, but it’s not that important) consists entirely of lust. Poor Agatha was variously imprisoned in a brothel, the governor’s private chamber, and actual dungeons, and at one point even lost her breasts as they were mutilated off as one more psychological, physical, and sexual abuse at the command of the lecherous governor. Despite all that, she would neither move from Christ nor give herself over to Governor Lusty. She gained everlasting life sometime around 250 A.D.
There are two questions I have to ask whenever I read a story about someone like Agatha. The first one is “Who was the real Agatha?” I mean the truth is I, like most people of our era, can’t get enough of the whole notion of “based on a true story.” I love reading nonfiction stories about marines and spies and other real people who lived and died on this world. I’m also genuinely shocked whenever I read a headline suggesting that there are new historical findings that shed light on some figure from the past. In one sense it is a good and noble thing to seek the truth and reject anything that rings of falseness. In my ministry I tutor kids and I want an accurate idea of what that kid needs to improve in his or her class. It does me no good to hear “He’s a good kid,” that’s not facts to work with, that’s a story.
And yet, as Christians one of our core beliefs is the rejection of knowing the “whole story” until God chooses to reveal it to us. So, my second question is, “Does it matter?” Maybe Agatha was plain-looking, rounded up with the whole of her nameless community and executed. Maybe she almost gave up and renounced only to receive strength and support from an unknown source. Maybe she really was a beautiful maiden that a lusty governor could not defile. Does it matter?
More and more I realize that answering God’s call means finding your identity in God. I may have never thought of myself as a teacher before this year, but that’s where God seems to be calling me now. Do I think this plan makes sense? I’m not sure yet. I don’t think Agatha signed on specifically to pray to God on behalf of bell-makers, Malta, and those afflicted by fire and breast cancer. But that’s how she serves God and the Church. May it please God that we may follow her example.
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