We are called to say YES

     In the last little over 15 months that I have been here at Andre' House the most frequent questions I get asked is 'Why in the world did you move from the other side of Texas to Phoenix, AZ of all places?'  My answer is always 'Andre' House of course'.  I sometimes have to remind myself that even though I think the answer to this silly question is completely obvious, maybe people don't understand that making the 1200 mile move just to serve bean burritos every Thursday night was saying 'yes' to God's call for me.  Today we heard Mary saying YES!!! to God's call to bear the Savior of the world, so I thought that this blog post would be a good time to talk about being called into service.

   I can remember growing up I always enjoyed helping others.  If there was something that needed to be done, I would be more than happy to carry a bag, open a door, run an errand, or babysit at the last minute.   As I became involved at my home parish, it wasn't uncommon for me to head over to St. Anne's after work and spend the next 5 going from meeting to meeting, office to office.  Sometimes always wanting to help out became over whelming.  I sometimes felt I never had time to do everything.  However, I wasn't truly happy unless is was serving those around me.  I told several people that my job kept interfearing with   About a year and a half ago, I was meeting with my spiritual director and talking about my frustrations of trying to find a full time job.  Fr. Andy and I have known each other for 10 years and he knows of my desire to serve others.  He asked if I had ever considered taking a year off from 'normal' to go somewhere and serve in ministry full time.  Honestly, I didn't think that was an option.  After searching the Internet I found a couple of places and began to email different organizations to get information.  I think I probably sent out 10 or so emails and received only one back with a warm welcome and the information I had requested.  As you probably have guessed, it was from the Andre' House.  After much discernment, emails, phone calls, and an interview week, I received a phone call from our director, Fr. Eric, to invite me to join the staff at the Andre' House.  Was I ready to pack up, move 1200 miles away from everything I knew, and to actually live a life of full time ministry?  Well, this was my chance to give God a big YES!!!  Like Mary, I was afraid and in some ways I still am.  Like Mary, my life is a daily yes.  I wake up every day with God whispering in my ear saying 'Are you ready to serve Me?'  Sometimes on Thursdays it is tough to roll out of my nice warm bed at 7am to get ready to go to food bank.   I have to remember that our guests don't want to get up only to be staring homelessness in the face every morning.  They don't want to have to get up to go stand in line for food, blankets, clothing, showers, or appointments when they are unsure if they can even make it through to get any of these services.  Who am I to tell God no?  Mary was only 13 or 14 when she gave birth to Jesus.  At 13 or 14 I was in the 8th grade and the most important thing on my mind was probably boys.  Saying a daily yes to God has been a great joy.  It has had many challenges, but even in the midst of those challenges there always has been a sense of peace.  Saying yes doesn't always need to be big.  We don't always need to move 1200 miles away from home to say yes.  Many times our yes to God is in the simple things.  How do we say yes to God with our everyday actions?  How are you called to say yes?