One More Chance For Hope

I'm sitting here in my apartment, super sore from helping move wood up in the forest today. It's the prime time to be moving wood from up in the mountains down here to town because we've got a lot of wood that needs to be moved. In the winter, this wood heats the houses of some of the parishioners, Fr. Remus, and the church. I only helped with 2 truck loads, but the guys estimated that it was going to take 7-8 truckloads of wood. But that's not why I'm writing. Haha.

I was sitting here listening to some music when the song "The One" by Brandon Heath came on and caught my attention. Listen to his acoustic version of it here. 

These lyrics seem to be ringing very true in my life right now:

If there's one thing that I'm sure of
If there's one thing that I know,
You could be one in a sea of faces
Or you can be one more chance for hope.

When I think of what could be
If we let our hearts believe
That it takes just one
Just one to turn this all around

And if we're living history
How will they think of you and me
If it takes just one, just one,
What if, what if, what if I'm the one?

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These lyrics, every time I hear them, are a bit of a reality check for me. Sometimes I get so used to being in Romania that I almost forget I'm here - I become complacent. Then, I'll be walking somewhere, like to the store or to the church and God will randomly hit me with a reality check. It happens in the simple things, like a simple (okay, VERY simple...I understand most Romanian, but my ability to respond in Romanian isn't all that great. I'm working on it!) conversation with someone on the street, looking at the mountains, or I just have this feeling. And I fall in love with this country all over again. It happened today when I was up in the mountains. I was sent to get water from the stream and as I got there, I stopped and took this picture, then closed my eyes, listened to the stream, and took a second to breathe in the fresh mountain air. In that moment, I fell in love with Romania all over again.

These lyrics aren't just true for people like me. They're true for all of us. We all have the chance to just blend into everyday life and just be regular people. Or, we can do something radical for God and be a witness to His glory each and every day. It's all about walking the walk and not just talking the talk. You can talk to someone about the Gospel until you're blue in the face, but if you're not living it out, what's the point? The person isn't going to listen.

In the 7 years since I came back to my faith, I've found that nothing brings me greater joy than living out the Gospel, specifically, the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20). I named the mission after the concept of being a witness in everyday life simply by loving those I encounter each day, whether it's the kids at the orphanage, people from our parish, or just someone walking past on the street. I want to be (and I pray that I am) used by God each day to be someone's chance for hope in Him. His hope never disappoints (Romans 5:5).

I have the wonderful opportunity to return to Medjugorje, Bosnia and Herzegovina for a pilgrimage in 3 weeks. I first went when I was studying in Austria and my view of the Blessed Mother was never the same. I always thought she was kinda cool before I went, but it was there that I had what I call my "Marian Conversion" and I realized how freakin' awesome she is. Fr. Remus was asked to be the spiritual leader for a group in Baia Mare. But, here's the kicker. To go, I need 250 euro, or $320. Any chance you can help with that? Go to bringhope.org/catherine and donate. If you can't donate, please pray that I can get the money. There's a saying about Medjugorje that goes "If the Blessed Mother wants you there, she'll get you there, no matter what." I'm trusting in that.