The Not-So-Lazy River

If you have ever been whitewater rafting, part of the safety talk before you get on the water includes the guide saying that if you fall out of the boat to:
1) cross your arms on your chest,
2) point your toes up at the sky,
3) aim your heels downstream, and
4) enjoy the ride.

I believe there is a similar concept in ministry:
1) fold your hands in prayer,
2) point your heart toward Heaven,
3) follow whatever path He sets before you, and
4) hang on for the ride.

Many days you might not have a set schedule, but at least an agenda, such as an upcoming retreat, student night activity, or school break trip that needs your attention.  The amazing thing is how many times this agenda changes on the fly despite your best efforts to keep the day from spiraling out of control.  The biggest challenge to C is those days of the week that are notorious for bringing the unexpected: Sundays and Mondays. 

Sundays, due to the sheer number of Masses and other activities, are always hectic, to say the least.  Throw on top of that the various students asking to set up meetings for the following week, and time between Masses can quickly vanish.  And occasionally, there is a situation which can not wait and C ends up needing to meet with someone that same afternoon or evening.

Then Mondays roll around and all of the items that came up on Sunday have to be researched, prayed upon, and/or fixed during the day.  When the night rolls around there is a series of several CCM events that usually end up overlapping.  So this leads to a long, crazy day.
 
In the midst of all this craziness and confusion, it is sometimes hard to maintain your focus on what it is you are doing and why it is so important to the students you serve.  Sometimes I have to help C remember to step back and reflect for a moment on how her work, with all of its stress and madness, draws the students closer to God.  Her work behind-the-scenes to make things happen is usually unseen, and often under-appreciated, but it is absolutely necessary for students to get the opportunities they do to join in communion with God and with one another.  This is what you have to focus on when the days get long, or there are short, high-stress periods in the day, so you do not burn out, but instead offer the stress up to God and remember steps 1 through 4 (especially #4).