This Weight I Feel

Blogged by Karah • November 26, 2007 • 12:43 am

So, it's the beginning of this idea that began with a conversation between a brother and a sister many months ago. Although we live on opposite sides of the country, we found ourselves connecting over something that we couldn't quite put into words. The questions kept popping up . . .

what is our mission as a Christian?
how would you define this mission in a way that makes sense to my generation?
seriously, what does it mean to live as a Christ follower?
how can I reach out to my community in a relevant way?
does "sharing Christ" have to mean verbalizing His name?
don't actions speak louder than words?
how's this t-shirt method really working?

. . . but the answers weren't that obvious. Web searches came up with some vague ideas, but nothing concrete.

Maybe it's because I feel the real-life responsibilities of kids, a job, a husband, church stuff, and the general burden of living life, but the idea of having a "mission" just seems so heavy! And yet, the idea of NOT having a personal mission just weighs even more. Those thoughts probably stem from the age old questions of "why am I here? what is my purpose?", but I can't help it! It doesn't' seem right to live a life full of direct blessings from God, and not SHARE something of myself with those who are less granted.

Matching up my ambitions and my reality has prooven more difficult though. I mean, how many of us are at a point where we can just "drop everything" and "give all"? (Admittedly, I don't fully understand what "giving all" really means.) But I want to give something!

So, the idea of this blog came about. A site created by regular folks, trying to follow Christ, wherever He leads. For some, He led them to far-off jungle lands, for others, their own neighborhoods. But the exciting thing is, God is leading in unique, creative, bold, exciting, and brand new ways!

This site was created as a resource for ideas, a sharing place for plans, and a forum of passion for Christ-followers, just trying to live in His goodness and mercy.

That "weight" of wanting to make a difference is feeling different now. I've discovered that there really are people out there, doing fabulous things, meeting needs where need exists, sharing His love in quiet and meaningful ways, and like St. Francis of Assisi said: "preaching Christ" without using words. I'm finding ideas that I can actually implement in my community. I'm stepping out in little ways, all because of the ideas I'm picking up around this site!

Hope you visit BeZao often, comment frequently, and share your thoughts, ideas, plans, and feelings about ways Christ is being shared in your community!

Welcome!

Filed under: Sharing & Outreach

Karah,
I tormented myself with this same question -- when I didn't have kids, I used to imagine myself doing all these great, dramatic things for Christ -- preaching, singing, leading others to critical, religious thinking about their faith. And then motherhood came along. For a few years, I tried to "do it all" -- have a job, be a mom, lead Sunday School, sing in choir, play the piano for worship....then I remembered what a professor of mine had told us in a music and worship course. He introduced himself on the first day of class by telling us that he had worked as a church musician for 35 years, and that he had three adult children who never went to church anymore, because all they remembered about church was their dad running around in a choir robe, worried and stressed.

Now, I know that God has called me to witness my faith, and that He has given me talents that I have dedicated to His Glory. But I forgot that the most important talent -- or maybe we should call it vocation -- is that of motherhood. So my faith does come across in my everyday life -- I talk about it to my students when they wonder why Vivaldi was a priest, or what a Mass is. But more importantly, my big mission right now is to teach my children how to be faithful. To sit with them every week in the pew at Mass, to help them read the prayer book, to learn the hymns and prayers. During the week, we have worship time, we have prayers together, we have catechism classes. I could be up front, leading out, but then, I would miss all the quiet moments that I am lucky enough to see, when Dave and Clare are learning to practice their faith.

In a few years, I will be driving them around to youth group meetings and socials, or fund raising for World Youth Day or something. It's a very different world from what I lived in for 20 years, when I was the "Church Musician", and flew all over and sang everywhere. But I am really happy being that mom now, and I am grateful that God, in His wisdom, has given me that opportunity.

So...my mission now is to raise two little Christians. Like St. Francis, I am speaking the word of God without preaching. It's just less glamorous and global than I thought it would be, when I was 21.

Said Wendy Wareham at 8:03 am on January 14, 2008

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"Preach Christ and if necessary use words." - St Francis of Assisi

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Brent is a husband, father of two and interactive designer from Spokane, Washington.
Brian Is a Youth Pastor, Musician and sometimes film maker living in Spokane Washington
Karah wife, mom, and friend. trying to live every day for Christ.
Mona I'm satisfied with just a cottage below . . . .
Wendy nurse in the wild mountains of the Philippines

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