I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen; not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.


CS Lewis

Sunday, July 6, 2014

Don't be stupid...

Stay in the boat!

During my first week of camp, my boss came to town- Bishop Johnston of the Springfield-Cape Girardeu diocese stopped by to say Mass and enjoy a meal with some the youth of his diocese.

"What is one of the stupidest things you can do on a boat in a storm?" he asked the kids. They all looked around confused, seeing as most of them have had little experience with boats or storms. Bobbi Mosley, our cook, leaned in and whispered to me, "jump out!"

Eventually, Bp. Johnston was able to pull it out of them, that the stupidest thing to do was to jump out of the boat in a storm.

"The Church is the boat, when times get rough, when you feel scared, frustrated, or abandoned, don't jump out of the boat. The Apostles thought Jesus was sleeping, not paying any attention to them or their problems, but He was right there. Jesus will never abandon us."

The kids loved it. For days, I heard them using the Bishop's earthy, child-friendly phrase. It stuck with my staff too, they're talking about even making shirts. And it stuck with me, on Wednesday, I hit a wall. I was so tired, and just unsure of what I was supposed to be doing or saying. Bobbi laughed at me, cheering me on over the hump, all I needed was a minute to breathe, and remind myself that I am not abandoned. I'm surrounded by campers and staff who listened to, respected, and loved me. I could do this.

"Don't be stupid, stay in the boat," I heard Bp. Johnston say, and then I was up and ready to go again.

Totus tuus,

LeAnn


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