Balancing Vocations with No Coordination

The priest on my silent retreat last year said he had a vision of me traveling with my son and speaking to teens around the country. I remember being taken aback. “How could that be?” I wondered. “That sounds like a blast but others are much more qualified.. No, I’m happy here in the trenches.” I pulled back from any speaking gigs. I needed to focus on this boy and grow into being his momma. I still do.

But this weekend I agreed to give a talk at a Confirmation retreat here in Indiana. I was worried after when the organizer pulled me aside to give feedback.. “Ok, one of our volunteers just summed it up best. He said, ‘That girl should be in every Catholic school in the country.’ Caitie, he’s right. You need to do this more.” Oh!

I had left my boy with the former foster family for the day, but on the way home I let myself envision a traveling family ministry for little while. Could this be something I add to our lives!? More and more as I struggle to juggle full-time work and single-motherhood, I pray God’s plan for my career be efficient and worthwhile. I’ve never had time for BS when it comes to youth ministry, and while I’ve mellowed with age, I’m also now a mom.. I flat out told God that haphazard ministry was no longer permitted in my life. Ain’t nobody got time for that! I started the year worried how I would survive working parenthood, but it was God Who’d been working. Our Campus Ministry Team shifted around and, albeit a few growing pains, it was instant relief! We are equally yoked, really driven to save souls, and each brought relevant gifts to the table. Whoo hoo! I can now let go of the reigns AND the nitty gritty details; focusing only on our students’ holiness.. Awesome!

So is God clearing the decks to add speaking to my plate? I don’t know.. Maybe it’s not right to ask Him to cut out the parts of ministry that drain me and just give me jobs I like.. His will be done.

I just booked another retreat in New Mexico and I’m open to invitations if other schools or parishes are looking! I’ll be very picky about accepting between work and my son, but maybe Buddy will join in to speak on Theology of Toy Story… #QuoVadis