This past weekend we did a fall retreat with Dirty Vagabond, St. Alexis, and St. Bonaventure from Pittsburgh. We drove our buses through a massive snow storm to get to the retreat center in Cleveland, Ohio. Did I mention that Dirty Vagabond has recently acquired a school bus…that’s right, folks…Joey (my fiance and an urban missionary for this inner-city ministry) is soon to be a licensed bus driver. Raise your hand if you too have had the experience of unknowingly marrying a bus driver. Anyway, moving on…
It was a truly incredible weekend. I feel so blessed by the insight God has given to my heart. I was reminded this weekend to store up my treasure in heaven. I can’t really say that my involvement with anything I have done in my lifetime has changed me as much as my involvement in this ministry has. The kids coming to the Dirty Vagabond center day in and day out have impacted me tremendously. I have a friend who, by the world’s standards has very little in the way of material things, popularity, great accomplishments, or family stability. But I don’t think I have ever come across a heart so adamantly sure of the love that God has for her. She is beautiful in simplicity and rich in intimacy with the Savior. It is amazing how as I make more of a deliberate effort to focus my life towards what I can do for the poor around me, I am confronted with my own poverty. It is definitely a poverty of spirit and heart when I hold a famous actress or singer in a higher regard than I do this dear friend of mine. She looks like nothing to the world, but I know she is valued to the very utmost by the King of Glory; one of His highly favored ones. I am then reminded that my TV is just a box. My computer…just a box. My radio…just a box. Why am I ordering my life to this ridiculous standard of value and worth?
I am reminded that life is made up of the little seeds of revelation God has planted in this plot of land that He has given me; moments of showing His face to me. All I can say is, you become a lot more free as a person when you realize that you are just a fumbling idiot and a slob who is greatly treasured by the King. I am serious! It really makes me laugh to think that God probes every part of me and sees all the discrepancies and still gives and gives and gives until I am so full that I can barely even digest the first of His giving! But, that is His love. That is His mercy. That is His gift. It matters nothing what you can or cannot do. So embrace your inner-slob and know that you are treasured still!!! Store up your treasure in heaven. Paper, coin, fame, and human glory…it’s all passing away. Only He remains!
I was in Alexandria this past Saturday with a group of teens from Crowley, La. My sister is the DRE for St. Michael’s in Crowley so, even though we live in Rayne, we do a lot with the group out of Crowley. My daughter, Katie, goes to Lifeteen with Jamie Orillion. I just wanted to let you know how moved by the Holy Spirit our group was! What an awesome day for these teens! This was the first event of the new youth group at St. Michael’s and it was definitely something to get their blood moving!! You were truly chosen by our Lord to pass along His message and it’s getting through!! May God continue to bless and keep you and Dirty Vagabond!