Last summer a friend challenged my Bible study group to read “The Hole in our Gospel” by Richard Stearns, president of World Vision.  After reading the brief summary posted on the back of the book,

“What does God expect of us?  Is our faith about just going to Church, studying the Bible and avoiding the most serious sin – or does God expect more?  Have we embraced the whole gospel or a gospel with a hole in it?  Ten years ago Rich Stearns came face-to face with that question as he sat in a mud hut in Rakai, Uganda, listening to the heartbreaking story of an orphaned child.  Steans’ journey there took much more than a long flight to Africa.  It took answering God’s call on his life, a call that tore him out of his corner office at one of America’s most prestigious corporations – to walk with the poorest of poor in the world.”

I am ashamed to say that I opted out of that challenge.  But God apparently intended for me to read that book.  So, due to my friend’s persistence throughout the year, the book was number one on my reading list for this summer,  and shortly I was engrossed by the testimony of the author and the plight of millions of children around the world.  I can assure you that it wasn’t light, happy summer reading.  However, I highly recommend the book as it truly opened my eyes and is prompting change within me and my family.

“Christ has no body on earth but yours, no hands but yours, no feet but yours.  Yours are the eyes through which Christ’s compassion for the world is to look out; yours are the feet with which He is to go about doing good and yours are the hands with which He is to bless us now”

St. Teresa of Avila

One of the reasons that I was attracted to the Catholic Church was the Church’s preferential option for the poor and caring for the least and the lost.  However, when it came to time to sign up for ministry activities in my parish and in previous churches, I always found myself drawn towards activities within the Church such as teaching Sunday school, facilitating Bible studies and working on the welcome committee.  While all these are worthy endeavors, I realized that serving the poor was left off the list.

Although I was familiar with Christ’s words in the passage of Matthew 25:31-46 where He tells about the final judgment, I don’t think I personalized this message as I should have.  What have I done to feed the hungry?  What have I done to give water to the thirsty?  What have I done to help a stranger?  What have I done to clothe the naked? What have I done to look after the sick?  What have I done to visit those in prison?

The book, the scripture, the truth in Christ’s words culminated in a very uncomfortable conviction for me.  I had been blessed to be a blessing to others– but I was allowing God’s blessing in my life to stop with me.  As you know when you reach the “aha” moment, it can be a little overwhelming.  How can I implement a life style of service into my already busy life? Mother Teresa’s words provided the answer and direction in which to begin – start small.

“We can do no great things, only small things with great love.”

Mother Teresa

Armed with that advice and some free days this summer, several of us have identified a few organizations in our hometown of Atlanta where you can serve on a moment’s notice.  That flexibility is helpful when you also have to navigate the family schedule filled with children’s activities, summer doctor appointments and trips.

While I haven’t personally served in all these ministries, someone in our Bible study group has.  Here is a list of groups that are in need of volunteers throughout the summer.  In most cases you can simply call the day before, reserve a spot to serve,  and/or make a commitment to bring food to a drop off location.

Must Ministries – is a faith based non profit charitable organization dedicated to providing services to persons and families in crisis while maintaining their dignity.  Must has several areas in which to serve.  The summer lunch program serves 2,000 plus lunches to children everyday totaling nearly 100,000 lunches per summer.  The ministry needs volunteers to provide lunches to be distributed at one of their service centers.  Instructions and guidelines can be found on their website at www.mustministries.org.

City of Refuge – offers both life saving resources and life building tools to individuals and families in Atlanta who are living on the margin.  There are also multiple opportunities here to serve.  One ministry within City of Refuge is called Meals on the Street.  Individuals or groups of 10 or less serve dinner on Wednesday evenings from 4 to 6 PM and breakfast on Sundays from 8:45 to 10 AM to homeless men and women on the streets.  For more information and/or to make reservations to serve, visit www.cityofrefugeinc.com.

7 Bridges to Recovery is a non-profit ministry rescuing the last, the lost and the least from the streets of Atlanta.  There are several opportunities here to serve including a street ministry where teams of volunteers go into the street and under bridges to bring food and needed items to the homeless and pray with them.  The ministry also operates a shelter called The Garden.  Volunteers can provide food items for dinner and/or assist with serving dinner at the shelter every night.  For more information on how to become involved, visit www.7bridgestorecovery.org.

Saint Francis Table –is a ministry of The Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.  The ministry feeds over 500 people every Saturday.  Volunteers are needed beginning at 7:00 AM on Saturday mornings to prepare sandwiches.  Groups and individuals can donate sandwiches and food items.  For more information visit the website www.catholicshrineatlanta.org

So whether you are a seasoned volunteer who is looking for a new opportunity in which serve this summer or you are just starting small like me, there are plenty of places in which to get involved.

Chick A

1. I wish more people knew about  Sirius XM station 117, the Catholic Channel, and especially the show called Word to Life.  I happened upon it on Sunday (a replay) where several Dominican priests were discussing the universal readings for Sunday’s mass.  (have I mentioned how much I like the idea of universal readings?).  The website describing the program is terrific.   More Catholic and non-Catholic Christians need to check this out.

2. I’ve never really thought of Jesus having grandparents, but yesterday being the feast of St. Joachim and St. Anne (parents of the Blessed Mother) has given me something to consider.  You never contemplate this as a non-Catholic – at least I didn’t.  Also, it was interesting to hear where we learn about Mary’s parents- from the apocryphal writing of James and others – see this article from Catholic News Agency to learn more.

3. Why did I not give the homeless lady who approached my car some money at the grocery store?  She kind of scared me.  The real scary part is that I have been wanting more contact with the homeless for me and for my children as we do service work.  Jesus showed up in His most distressing disguise (thank you Mother Teresa), and I denied Him help.  Some days it feels like I have a long way to go.

Chick B

As Chick B mentioned in a previous post –  thanks to FOC, Susan M, I have a new strategy involving pantyhose ready to implement when I see the next baby tomato on the vine.  Currently, there are just a bunch of yellow flowers.   However, in the meantime, I have harvested a load of peppers and am ready to make homemade salsa.

Chick B criticized me for planting “insurance” and called me a show off when I sent over a picture of my beautiful peppers.  But if it weren’t for the peppers, I would have waived the white flag and totally surrendered my attempt at gardening.  So while Chick B and her family are munching on BLTs – at least I have some salsa to go along with my chips.

Just wait until she find out about the pumpkins . . .

Chick A

Chicks A and B

A new use for the dreaded panty hose

Thanks Susan M!

Chick B

I went out the next day for the daily watering to discover that the beautiful tomato had been stolen.  There was not even a remnant left.  I was devastated!!!  This morning, the greener tomato was missing as well.  More devastation!!

Chick A's mint, which didn't fare so well either and had to be "pulled"...

So, while Chick B is eating tomato pie and BLTs on white, I am left with nothing!!!  The only tomatoes on the vine are about the size of a cherry and very green.  Wonder if those will be stolen, too?

Thank God I planted the peppers – or it would be a total loss for this novice gardener!!

Chick A

Starting out, I thought to myself that this whole idea was kind of “fun” – that I could really make a morning of it by going to Starbucks or Barnes & Noble after mass was finished. (oops- I forgot money).  The air was crisp and cool, and I didn’t mind all the drivers rushing past on their first morning back to work after a holiday weekend.  My pace got me right to the church on time, and I entered the nice cool building feeling a little stiff but grateful to be there.

When mass was over, I began the walk home by cutting through the parking lot and passing a statue of the Holy Family, with Jesus looking to be about the age of 7 or 8, a time in his life on which Sacred Scripture is silent.  Passing that image and beginning the walk home got me thinking about Joseph and Mary and all the traveling they had to do early on in their family life.  Between registering for the census, fleeing to Egypt, and settling in Nazareth, they must have been worn out with all the walking/donkey riding that they had to contend with.  Suddenly, my little self-imposed penance seemed incredibly trivial.

And what about Jesus and the disciples, walking from town to town and shaking the dust off their feet and sandals when the townspeople would not accept them.  Sandals – are you kidding me?  I had on a pair of $50 walking shoes and still felt practically crippled by the time I got home.  And Abraham – being told by God to leave his home and go to a place that God would reveal to him?  I just don’t know if I could do it, not knowing my destination.  At least when you walk to and from church you know your destination, about how long it takes to get there, and what awaits you once you arrive.

That walk home gave me plenty to think about, and plenty for which to be grateful.  Try it sometime, and with each step say a prayer of thanks to those of faith who persevered long before there were bikes, cars, and Starbucks.

Chick B

Chick A's jalapeno peppers

Chick B's tomatoes, which have changed color overnight

After waking up in a cold sweat over the possibility that a squirrel might find my summer project, I went ahead and picked my first tomato to let it finish ripening on the window sill in the sun.  The kids thought it was a little too early for picking.  I didn’t care-I wasn’t going to chance it and suffer the devastation that would have followed a tomato kidnapping.

First tomato ever for Chick B

I am hoping to pluck the rest of the beauties from the vine before any of those pesky squirrels or chipmunks realize what is happening right in their own back yard.  Things are looking up for tomato pie, tomato sandwiches, and BLTs!

Chick B

While traipsing around St. Joseph’s Benedictine Abbey searching for Walker Percy’s headstone with Chick B, I suddenly realized what a truly “southern catholic” moment I was having.

For those of you who don’t know Walker Percy, here is a little bio info that may help explain why two Southern Catholic women would haul four kids 60 miles out of the way on a trip home from New Orleans to an abbey outside the small town of Covington, Louisiana.

Born May 28, 1916 in Birmingham, AL, Walker Alexander Percy was an American Southern author whose interests included philosophy and semiotics.  He is best known for his novels including The Moviegoer, The Last Gentleman, Love in the Ruins, and The Second Coming among others.  His work displays a unique combination of existential questioning, Southern sensibility and deep Catholic faith.  Not only was he a prolific writer but he was instrumental in getting John Kennedy Toole’s Pulitzer Prize- winning novel  A Confederacy of Dunces published after Toole’s death.  He also was a great encourager of his fellow Southern writers and along with 21 other authors founded the Fellowship of Southern Writers.  In 1989 the University of Notre Dame awarded Percy its Laetare Medal, which is awarded annually to a Catholic “whose genius has ennobled the arts and sciences, illustrated the ideals of the Church and enriched the heritage of humanity.”

Both Chick B and I share a love for reading books by Southern writers.  And, I had been a Walker Percy fan back in my Protestant days.  So, imagine my delight when we discovered that Walker Percy was a Catholic convert as well.  (This explains the trip to a remote abbey outside Covington, Louisiana.)

Chick B finally located the simple headstone. We paid our respects to the great Southern writer and loaded up back in the car for the 8 hour drive home — a little richer from the “southern catholic moment” we had just had.

Chick A

Chick A's tomato plant, June 16

Chick B's tomato plant, June 16

More later on the mint and jalapenos…..

Here’s hoping that the squirrels don’t find my summer project!

Chick B