A dual mission
Hi, my name is Holly Korb, and I am an AmeriCorps VISTA. I am also a Christian.
Ok, now that I got that out of the way, I'll get on to the rest. This morning I was really inspired by the sermon I heard at church, as I usually am. It was about sharing our faith in a two-fold approach: by the words we say and the way we live. It just made me realize how far I've come, and yet just how much farther I still have to go. And that's ok. God is gracious and He is patient. Boy, am I thankful for that, and I try so hard not to take it for granted!
Shortly after, I started thinking about my VISTA service. Again, the same thoughts: It just made me realize how far I've come, and yet just how much farther I still have to go. 12 months goes by so fast, and yet so slowly, at the same time. I've found that just about any amount of time is the same way. The common thread between these two for me, at least what I'm trying to portray, is that of my service: As a Christian, I am called to serve my brothers and sisters, AND Christ, whom I believe is my personal savior and Lord of my life, and as a VISTA, I am called to serve my organization and my community, and even my country, to a small degree (Hey, I had to get fingerprinted and take an oath- they don't mess around! ;) Kidding). After the message today, I realize that I have a dual mission right now in this season of my life: that of my God, and that of my VISTA-ness. Because AmeriCorps is a federal organization, and therefore still practices the separation of church and state, I can't proselytize my faith (which, let's just be frank, is not my personal method of choice for evangelism anyway). However, I can do my best to live out my faith as a means to my VISTA service, which is exactly what I'm trying to do. I know I can do better, I always believe that. I don't see that as being hard on myself; I just never want to get to a point where I'm satisfied with stagnancy.
I was watching NUMB3RS last night, and this monologue below really, really struck with me. I've noticed that sometimes we just sort of drift through life without really giving any regards to those around us, our impressions, our actions, anything like that. We sort of autopilot ourselves, go in, get the work done, work 8 or 9 hours a day, say "Have a good evening" and go back to our homes, repeat. It's easy to do. I'm still guilty of this, I realize. But given what I learned from this show, and what I learned from church this morning, I'm choosing to meditate on these words, both from Charlie Eppes and my pastor, and to apply them to my faith and my work.
Who am I to you? Are faded chalk marks and scratches on the floor the only evidence that I was here, or did some scribbled note, some fragment of a proof invert your perception of the world, even confirm it, cementing what you knew in your heart to be true, with the balance of left column to right? What footprints have I left behind? Do they endure, or has the ocean of discovery washed them away already? How many lives have I touched? Have I touched yours?
I am a Christian, and I am an AmeriCorps VISTA. I see my dual mission to live as both: Christ in me as I continue to serve. Please let me know if you see me doing otherwise.
Ok, now that I got that out of the way, I'll get on to the rest. This morning I was really inspired by the sermon I heard at church, as I usually am. It was about sharing our faith in a two-fold approach: by the words we say and the way we live. It just made me realize how far I've come, and yet just how much farther I still have to go. And that's ok. God is gracious and He is patient. Boy, am I thankful for that, and I try so hard not to take it for granted!
Shortly after, I started thinking about my VISTA service. Again, the same thoughts: It just made me realize how far I've come, and yet just how much farther I still have to go. 12 months goes by so fast, and yet so slowly, at the same time. I've found that just about any amount of time is the same way. The common thread between these two for me, at least what I'm trying to portray, is that of my service: As a Christian, I am called to serve my brothers and sisters, AND Christ, whom I believe is my personal savior and Lord of my life, and as a VISTA, I am called to serve my organization and my community, and even my country, to a small degree (Hey, I had to get fingerprinted and take an oath- they don't mess around! ;) Kidding). After the message today, I realize that I have a dual mission right now in this season of my life: that of my God, and that of my VISTA-ness. Because AmeriCorps is a federal organization, and therefore still practices the separation of church and state, I can't proselytize my faith (which, let's just be frank, is not my personal method of choice for evangelism anyway). However, I can do my best to live out my faith as a means to my VISTA service, which is exactly what I'm trying to do. I know I can do better, I always believe that. I don't see that as being hard on myself; I just never want to get to a point where I'm satisfied with stagnancy.
I was watching NUMB3RS last night, and this monologue below really, really struck with me. I've noticed that sometimes we just sort of drift through life without really giving any regards to those around us, our impressions, our actions, anything like that. We sort of autopilot ourselves, go in, get the work done, work 8 or 9 hours a day, say "Have a good evening" and go back to our homes, repeat. It's easy to do. I'm still guilty of this, I realize. But given what I learned from this show, and what I learned from church this morning, I'm choosing to meditate on these words, both from Charlie Eppes and my pastor, and to apply them to my faith and my work.
Who am I to you? Are faded chalk marks and scratches on the floor the only evidence that I was here, or did some scribbled note, some fragment of a proof invert your perception of the world, even confirm it, cementing what you knew in your heart to be true, with the balance of left column to right? What footprints have I left behind? Do they endure, or has the ocean of discovery washed them away already? How many lives have I touched? Have I touched yours?
I am a Christian, and I am an AmeriCorps VISTA. I see my dual mission to live as both: Christ in me as I continue to serve. Please let me know if you see me doing otherwise.
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