We Will Be the Hopeful

By now I’m sure you’ve heard about the attack on Paris last night (if not, please read here: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-34814203) So what now? What do we do after a terrible tragedy like this occurs?

Some have taken to scapegoating. And, to be honest with you, I kinda get it. After an event like this, we are shocked to the core. Our humanity forces us to search for answers. What is our answer? How do we respond? As Americans (French, Canadians, etc.)? As Christians (Muslims, atheists, …)? As people bound together by the fact that we’re all human beings experiencing tragedy?

We will be the hopeful. We will BE the hopeful.

1 Corinthians 13:13 reads, “And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love….” I’m sure you can complete the verse. But I believe these three are the opposite of fear. The fear that tragedies like this create and intend to create. Faith, hope, and love is how we’re called to respond. I believe we are called to be faith. To be hope. And to be love. This can bring us together. This, in time, can heal us.

We will be the hopeful.*

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*I am, again, borrowing this saying from my favorite organization To Write Love On Her Arms (www.twloha.com). While processing these events last night, this saying was all I could think of. God’s calling me to be the hopeful.

Frequently Asked Question

And now for part one of Frequently Asked Questions (more to come at an undecided later date): what do you do here? I meet quite a few people here at the cathedral and this is one question that I am always asked – usually as a follow up question to “are you a student?” I always respond, no I am not a student. I actually work here at the cathedral. And then come FAQ number one.

So what DO I so here at the cathedral? Well I predominately work with the youth but I truly do a little bit of everything. What does a typical day look like? Well there is no such thing as a typical day for me! There are certain things I do on a weekly basis: youth group, staff meeting, work the welcome desk, fold bulletins, and go to different worship services. But everything else changes depending on what is going on in the cathedral and what events are taking place in Paris.

Here are a few things that I’m currently working on, to give you an idea of what I actually do:

• Youth group: Every Sunday after church I meet with one of three youth groups. My group consists of students in their last and second to last year in high school. My co-leader, Mary, is currently taking the youth through Sundays’ services to teach them what we do in a service and why we do it.
• Organize youth activities: The other youth leaders and I have talked about different things the youth can do outside of Sunday’s youth group. I am currently looking into things like camping, paintball, etc. More to come on this.
• Attend different cathedral events and meetings: Even though I’ve been here for two months, I’m still just beginning to figure out the wonderful things the cathedral is doing. I’ve been to choir concerts, book studies, a Mission and Outreach meeting, a strategic planning workshop, and a few other things that I am currently forgetting.
• Help plan Thanksgiving dinner: This community includes many Americans and Canadians, so the cathedral hosts a potluck Thanksgiving dinner. I am helping organize this and I may even attempt to cook! (Don’t worry mom and dad, I will have supervision!)
• Take part in the COP21 march: In December, Paris is hosting the UN’s conference on climate change. The event begins with a march through the streets of Paris. I’m not sure yet what my involvement will look like, but I’ll let you know when I know!

Honestly, the number one thing that I do here is build relationships. That’s what everything boils down to. I’m still finding my place here and ironing out exactly what I do. But for now, this is where I’m at. And I love it!