Serving in
faith…
When I started volunteering
with Faith in Action I was looking at it as an
opportunity to gain fieldwork credit
for my Masters degree in Social Work.
After a long hard look at my
work schedule and my time commitment for my
class, I realized that the hours
were not going to work out for me. So I postponed
the class, but continued to
volunteer. The class I could always pick up later,
but the volunteer
opportunity I have had this summer is a once in a lifetime
chance. Soon I will be in a
profession where I will function on a more clinical level.
But for now, as a volunteer,
I can truly work as a servant of my faith. Running
errands, doing laundry,
sitting with strangers at God’s Pantry to obtain food
for a homebound individual may
not fall into the proper heading of Social Work.
It does however fall
under the heading of “God’s work”.
I am experiencing the joys
of servant-hood. My experiences have a sense
of holiness about them. The
people I serve are holy people. I see their pain, their
joy, their frustration and
fears. I am honored to be so trusted. I am humbled to know
that I can be of help to
them. There is a connection that is bigger than me. Of
course I feel good about
what I do; but I also realize that ultimately, I am just a
channel for God’s love. I am there
to intercede on God’s behalf. I am acting as
Christ’s hands and feet.
Things I thought I couldn’t or wouldn’t do, I can do for
God. I know that I am
serving God because each time I do, I see His holy presence
in the eyes of the individuals
that I come to help.
Martha Parks Johnson
Member Saint Michael the Archangel Episcopal Church
