(Previous Reflection is here…)

This week’s Reflection is written by Julie Palazini, Workcamp volunteer.

Today we remember and reflect on the lives of Sts Peter and Paul, both of whom are central to our faith. They lived their love for Jesus and faith in God fully. When I think of them, I think of the word, “Yes.” Yes, feed God’s people. Yes, share Jesus’ message with all. Yes, keep sharing even when it is difficult and beyond difficult.

Many think religion is all about “no” – focusing on restrictions, on what we shouldn’t do or should do. To me, faith is all about the yes - feeling a nudge and going with it... which is how I sometimes find myself in situations like the current one: thinking about the BUZZ issue that is soon to be overdue, worrying about media coverage for Workcamp, and somehow thinking I should share some of what I have experienced on the Workcamp Crew with you. I was asked yesterday, “Why do you get involved?” I usually come back to Yes. It seems important to answer yes whenever possible or at least more often than no. In her book A Simple Path, Mother Teresa states, “The point is to do something however small and show you care through your actions by giving your time... What we are doing is just a drop in the ocean, but that ocean would be less without that drop.”

In thinking back over the past eight months, I am overwhelmed with what has already been accomplished. When I went to my first Workcamp meeting in September, we took inventory. We had $0 of the $20,000 minimum that we needed to raise. We had 0 applications. In thinking about spreading the word, we had no one’s attention. It felt a bit like the apostles must have felt holding 5 loaves and 2 fishes with Jesus telling them to feed 5000.

But we had faith. And we each had a skill. We prayed and went to work. As of this printing, close to $30,000 was raised; over 300 applications were reviewed; the worksites have been identified and materials are on-site. The inventory could go on to include cookies, ladders, pins, pens and on.

One of the valuable things that you learn through stewardship is let go of the focus on the height of the mountain, to just start and keep walking. Help appears along the way. As part of the PR Crew, I was working hard to spread the word about camp. I worried about how it would all get done and wondered if I was the right person for the job. As is often the case, the best connections were made by others. Kathy stopped into the Standard Times office, Jeff connected with Paul Mueller who was covering Extreme Makeover... Sometimes, you make a hundred calls; when suddenly the right person makes the right connection at the right moment and that door you were banging on, suddenly opens. Pure joy and wonder!

It is an honor to work with this Crew... to add my drop to the ocean. It is crazy exciting to see the camp come to fruition. Mind you, none of this keeps me from worrying, thinking I could do more, be more. I remind myself to come back to center, know that what I need is God’s grace. It is comforting to know that Moses, Jeremiah, Jonah, Paul, and Peter all had moments of doubt. Not bad company, wouldn’t you say?

Julie Palazini