Ministry with Teens

I have never known anything as rewarding as the work that I do with teenagers. I am thankful that Lord has blessed me with the opportunity to pass on the Faith to the coming generation. I have to tell you though it is the most taxing career choice I think that I could have made. I love what I do, but man am I tired...

Tonight I had a night with my peer ministry where we played a game called Curses. I am convinced that this is a game straight from hell, so it is perfect to play at a Church meeting. Actually, it is a lot of fun, and allows you opportunity to break down the walls that keep you from opening up in groups. It also allows me to see the strengths and weaknesses of the teenagers that I look to as leaders. 

Being an introvert, I have to be alone at times to recharge... so to speak. Tonight is one of those nights where I am glad that I married Jonah. She understands that sometimes I just need my space. We are able to be in the same room together and know that we are supporting each other, yet not in each other's space. Does that even make any sense?

So... In  three weeks we have our Mystery Dinner Theater Fundraiser, the following weekend is a Junior High Retreat, then we have Easter and three weeks later our Confirmation Retreat. It all ends on May 2nd after the Celebration of the Rite of Confirmation. Or does it just begin? That is really the question... 

I am one of the few youth ministers in the Diocese who chooses to do a round the year ministry. It is really silly to me to take the summers off, as that is when those we minister to have the most free time, yet most of my counterparts here in the Diocese do just that. I just do not see how they can ever make inroads in to the teenage culture. That is something that in my experience takes around the calendar consistency and quality.

Time will tell I guess...

Any way... It is going to be a busy few months. I pray that He will give me the strength to make it through these busy times... and that my wife knows despite my desire to be alone... how much I love her...

Happy SAINT Valentine's Day

Prayers,

Pisio

Life

Hello my dear readers. I am at a crossroads. I am 31 and have no idea what I want to do when I grow up. Well... I have some idea, but I am really not sure... I love astronomy and working with small telescopes, but I really do have fun, and a gift for working with teenagers in a faith based setting. I have the option of doing a Religious Studies program with a minor in Christian leadership or going on and completing my BS in Physics and potentially teaching High School Physics. Either one would be awesome...

I just can not decide. I am trying to slow myself down and listen to the voice inside me, but it is almost like He just wants me to choose. Do I serve Him in the parishes, or in the schools? I really can not decide. Isn't it nice to have those options though?

I really feel sorry for those people who have their lives planned out for them from day 1. They have to go to the right school, play the right sports, be involved in the right clubs, have the right friends, go the the right college... All for what? To live out someone else's dreams for them. I almost pity some of the kids that I am working with now. It is almost like they have their lives planned out for them by their parents. They have no options, no choice and told that the only way to get ahead is such and such. They have no dreams other than those their parents say they should have for themselves.

Isn't there something more to life though than living someone else's dreams? I am starting to discover that I have my own dreams again, and they might not have been what I thought they were... does that make any sense at all? Probably not...

I have two paths ahead of me now. One that I thought I have wanted, and one that has always nagged at me... either one would make me happy, but I can not just think about me right now. I have a son and a wife to think about as well. Could someone with a degree in Religious Studies and Christian Leadership support his family? Probably... it would not be a glamorous life, but we would get by.

I don't know... it is a tough call. It just seems though that Youth Ministry is in my blood now. It is kind of like the ocean. Once it is in your blood you just can not shake it... Telescopes and astronomy will always be a neat hobby, but I am pretty sure I do not want to go back to making a living where my job is dependent on government contracts. The nice thing about working with teenagers is that as long as people keep having babies, I will never have to worry about funding for my projects. Granted, I may have to raise all the funding for my projects, but at least I have that control...

It is going to be an interesting couple of months... for those of you who are believers, prayers would be appreciated.

God Bless!

Prayers,

Pisio