Why I Serve.

This is a simple ask that no one trivialize what I have chosen, along with thousands of others, to do with my year.  That is especially because I don't want my work for the cause to end when my service term does, because that would be unsustainable and irresponsible.  You may call me crazy but I think anyone that doesn't do more for the homeless, hungry, and struggling should step back and realize what is crazy is the ignorance of our nation.  Let me elaborate...

In deciding to serve with Americorps for the year, I am choosing to serve my country and help those in need.  What is happening to us, that I have to feel it a poor decision to help my fellow Americans, and my community?  I pray we haven't become so selfish.  Now don't get me wrong, I am not tooting my horn but I am trying to get out some frustration with all the questioning.  I am also trying to make people think about how they serve their community, because we should all be doing what we can (with what we have) to give back, whether it be in time, money, or prayer.  We all have the capacity to give, and as God's people by golly he CALLS us to.

Since 1994 Americorps members have given 1 billion hours of service to their communities.  I am one of about 800,000 for which Americorps seems like a great way to give back, learn, and grow.  When I left Meredith College I'd admit that I was ready to try and save the world.  No one single person can do that, but if thousands of us commit to serve in any sort of capacity, whether it be Americorps or just volunteering I know the world would look different.  Living on a budget that places me below the poverty line is both challenging and eye opening.  It reminds me of how much I have to be grateful for, but how much more simply I could be living.  1 in 7 Americans are living in poverty and of those living in poverty, one third are children… And people want to know why I decided to serve?!

The need for housing is rising. In our world there are 1 billion people living in slums.  I won't try to fix any of these problems alone, but I will make sure that I am part of a group that is trying.  Since I can only be a piece to the puzzle, I will also advocate and ask others to join in, from policymakers to folks in the private sector.  Going to the leadership conference for Habitat Americorps members gave me lots of ideas on what to ask, and do.  There is plenty to be done and I will remember that on the harder days.  I feel honored to be a part of the Habitat Americorps family and lucky that I had the opportunity to apply and move to Dallas to work with Habitat for Humanity.

I will get things done for America - to make our people safer, smarter, and healthier.

I will bring Americans together to strengthen our communities.

Faced with apathy, I will take action.

Faced with conflict, I will seek common ground.

Faced with adversity, I will persevere.

I will carry this commitment with me this year and beyond.

I am an AmeriCorps member, and I will get things done.

-Americorps member pledge

"What NOW?"

The sun hits my face and dries my tears as I watch Sansepolcro become further away.  Fast forward two weeks later and now I'm crying on the only piece of furniture I can claim as my own in a brand new city.  Transitions can happen FAST and taking the time to process them is challenging because life continues to move and HAPPEN. Making the new, the new NORM needs time.  Those were reminders all September long...

Now is a new month and there is still self doubt of decisions made (and in the making) and questions of what comes next even though there is still so much new.  Settling for what SEEMED like enough for a while wasn’t okay any longer early on this year.  Now I have willingly set myself up in a situation both challenging and  even sometimes lonely. I chose THIS.  So therefore there is reason my creator put me in this situation, doing what I am doing… right?

The transition to something new has looked different this time because I almost needed to take myself back to where I was in Italy, in a way that would remind me it all actually happened.  For me that has been reading "A Traveller in Italy" by H.V. Morton.  He goes on for pages about the smallest details of the most unexpected places, and that is part of the beauty I found myself while in Italy this summer.  I also found beauty in transformations, in myself, in students that chose to study abroad, and in what it all meant to me at the end of the experience.

I knew if I didn't take the time right now to process things a bit, I wouldn't have the chance for a long time.  That is because this week Dallas Area Habitat is helping build 30 new hopes in East Oak Cliff and refurbishing another 20.  We have our work cut out for us, but we are lucky to be a part of some great work!  I am keeping my fingers crossed that this is last week in Dallas without Mike too.  Saturday and Sunday afternoon football would be a bit more fun to watch with him here after all.  It'll be "the next big thing" for our relationship.  The other thing missing for me right now is a second job, and that is the last piece of the chaos that is HOPEFULLY ahead.  I am anxious for it all but I've tried to make time that is more still, a time to do just that-- be more still.  You see if someone asked me would I rather sit around on a Saturday at home or be out for various errands, meet-ups, or opportunities all day I would chose the later.  However, the extrovert in me has turned back into my own shell for a little bit of stillness every now and then, and I've allowed myself to be okay with that.

So here I am ready for whatever this next year, or three, or five, has to bring.  The challenge in the time ahead is to listen to my heart and pray for direction and vocation.  What is it that I have been put here to do?  I understand that those in my generation have more jobs before we are 30 than our parents generation have ever had, but there is something that seems oh so gratifying about working really hard for that one (or maybe it’s a few) thing that you want to be a part of--that mission, that movement, and your calling.

So what do I EXPECT (and hope) this next chapter to be?  I hope that I can learn about living a little more simply, giving a little more generously (even if its giving of my time) and listening to myself and others a bit more intentionally.   I recently read a speech MLK gave to a group of students about life's blueprint.  We should each think about what our blueprint is so we can build a life that we will look back and be proud of.  MLK reminded students that they should remember their worth, set out to do life well, and step into the doors that are opened for each of them. He simply suggested that we work hard and that the people we become should be the best version of ourselves, whatever that may look that.  So in this, my favorite month of October, cheers to loving and listening well, and as I did in August, continuing to have some fun. 

**Title quote by my dear friend Liz Yaros.