By Paul Ainslie, President, SVdP Indy
As I write this, the Eucharistic Congress just finished in Indianapolis a few days ago. I was fortunate to attend for one day–it was amazing! The speakers were interesting and insightful, the music was wonderful, and the whole atmosphere was uplifting.
One featured speaker, Damon Owens, really hit home with me. Damon started by talking about a vocation, within a vocation, within a vocation. Our first vocation, which all Christians share from baptism, is the call to spread the love of God throughout the earth. The second vocation is the choice each of us makes about marriage and family, career and home, and the life we live for so many years. Much discernment goes into that decision, many times involving relocations and changes we can never anticipate. Finally, most of us get to choose a third vocation: what we dedicate the rest of our days to. This third vocation takes even more discernment because it may be the last such choice we make.
Most Vincentians recognize that the work we do is a calling, a vocation. This work can become nearly full-time, and some days it may appear to be almost too much. The demand of those in need seems to be unquenchable, and the efforts never-ending. We get overwhelmed and frustrated by the need for the good we do and sometimes have trouble seeing the light.
Damon addressed this too. He said that sometimes we just need to breathe in, then breathe out. Breathe in the tension, and breathe out the peace. Breathe in the frustration, and breathe out the hope. Breathe in the fatigue, and breathe out the love.
In your work as a volunteer or a staff member, remember to take care of yourself too. You cannot be a good servant if your fatigue and frustration get in the way of doing the work. Take a break and find a sub for a shift. Take a breath. Breathe in, breathe out.
