...so let's set the world on FIRE!!!!!!

“Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire” –St. Catherine of Siena

So here I am. The year is over, and I am still working on getting life back to normal. Only normal will be a whole lot different from now on. First of all, it will look different. I will soon be moving to an apartment in Bridgeport with my friend and fellow volunteer from this year, Morgan. I am starting my graduate classes at Adler School of Professional Psychology to earn my Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology. And I am still working at Visitation Catholic School part-time, doing whatever they need me to and serving any way I can for two days a week.

And in a less obvious way, I will never be “normal” again. I will never go back to my old way of looking at the world. My faith and my beliefs have changed, and I have spent time with people who have showed me what it truly means to live my faith in the world I live in. One of my favorite students this year lived at the homeless shelter servicing mothers with addiction problems. They were there for a year, and have just recently moved out. (I pray that they stay at the school and can re-establish themselves). This girl came to school every day, skinny as a twig and very small for her age, all smiles because she was learning how to read (in third grade). Regardless of any mistakes this girl’s mother has made, she is worth every single day I spent at that school. And at the end of the year, her mom came into school and gave me a hug, thanking me for caring for her child and spending time meeting her needs and educating her. I saw Jesus in that moment. He came to me and said, “When you cared for one of my people, you cared for me.” I don’t feel like I did much of anything this year, and I definitely felt ineffective for at least half the year. Had I known what I was doing the whole time, my kids would have been much better off. But in that moment, Jesus let me know that what I did this year was good.

What I want everyone reading this to know is that my experience has helped me more than I could have ever helped my kids. I saw the face of Jesus in every single one of them, and they touched my life in a way that leaves a permanent scar on my heart. Now, I have two choices. I can be proud of my scar and show it off, telling people how I have come to have this mark on my heart. Or I could hide it, and live uncomfortably with it covered up. Well I am certainly not going to cover it up!!!!! How much of a waste would that be? I am going to live out my faith, and share it with others. The gospel tells us to follow Christ, and that is what I intend to do. 

Now I feel like I need to take a moment and let you all now...I am currently reading a book called The Irresistible Revolution: Living as an Ordinary Radical by Shane Claiborne. He is a Christian dedicated to living out Christianity as Jesus does in the gospel. And his words have inspired me more than I can convey. It makes me want to find Christ in others, and serve them. 

So although I am still discerning, I had a truly amazing experience this year. I cannot even begin to list off all the things I learned; about myself, my faith, my vocation, being professional, teaching, living in community, and more. I made friends, both with adults and children, and have formed relationships that truly changed my life with people who I will always keep close to my heart. 

And now I am ready. I have to endure a few years of school, but that doesn't matter. I can be of service wherever I am, preach from the pulpit of my life, and become who God wants me to be (I am so DOMINICAN...how did that happen?). 

And I will...I'm ready to set the world on fire:)