Volunteers - Melissa
My name is Melissa and I am from rocking Rockville, MD. I graduated from Lehigh University with a bachelors of science in Economics, totally the coolest major in the world. However, though my major was totally rocking, I had no idea what to do with it come May 2006. I didn't really want a job (much to my parents' dismay) because I didn't want to feel like my life had to be "on track." So I decided to take a detour, but I didn't know exactly what that meant. Do I catch a plane and head to an unknown country? Do I stay at home and "veg "in front of the TV? In the end my searching led me to the CCSC.
So what is the CCSC like? It is like a wake up call when I want five more minutes of sleep. It's like me saying to God "Wait, I wasn't perfect? What?! I have to *gasp* change?" And though this would explain all the times when I make a complete fool of myself, this wasn't necessarily what I wanted to hear. So far the CCSC has been about how God loves me and truly knows that He can make me better than I can make myself. Blast. And I thought I was God.
And so, community….good old community. Yeah, they can be a wake up call too. I can say there have been several times when I have wanted to kill the messenger. Like the first time we all went grocery shopping together, oh what fun we had! Or how about the time when it was my first time leading spirituality night and it ended in one community member yelling and another crying?! Oh, the joy of community! In the end, I love them. But it wasn't the "you guys think exactly how I think" kind of thing. It was the "you're an fool, I'm an fool" kind of thing. It was the realization that none of us are perfect, but that is ok, kind of thing. And it was the realization that I would have never gotten to know them otherwise, because they weren't the people I was like. So yeah, these people totally rock, but not in the way that I expected.
That is a lot of what had to go: my expectations. As long as they are there I can never see what good there is in a situation because I am seeing all "the good" that is not there.
Oh and work, can't forget that. Yeah, it can definitely be rocky sometimes. And then it can totally rock. I work at Literacy Volunteers. Most of the time I tutor, which is cool because I get to meet so many people that are so intent on growth. What I have found is that growth isn't easy, but it is totally worth it.
But haven't you heard that this year is more about being than doing? The whole "Be still and know that I am God" thing? My translation for that quote is, "Shut up, sit down, and I'll tell you if you give Me half the chance you silly fool." So, if you come, get ready for learning!