CALLED AND CHOSEN

The summer I went on a retreat in Hemet, California, was when my relationship with God grew stronger. The retreat’s theme was, “Called and Chosen.” It gave us, the participants, time to learn to work together, to get closer to God, and to understand ourselves better so that we could return to our high school and be leaders of our school community.

Before the retreat, there was a lot going on in my life. During the retreat we had prayer walks, adoration, and time just to talk to God. This time with God helped me realize that he can wash away all my worries. I opened my heart to him, and that was the best thing I have ever done. I experienced God calling me to be his child, his disciple, and a leader to my peers by spreading his word and telling them about God’s amazing love for them. I also learned that in order to lead others, first I must follow Christ myself.

Before going on the retreat I thought I was already the closest I could be with the Lord, but being on that retreat changed my life in so many ways. I learned that a part of living my own life includes having God in it because he wants me to love him and share the life he gave me with him. I am forever grateful that God helped me come to that realization.

—Alea

For Reflection

“In order to lead others, first I must follow Christ myself.” A disciple cannot give what he or she does not have. Before, during, and after serving our brothers and sisters in Christ, we must be nourished by Christ so as to give him to others. Although your day may be full, take some time—even just fifteen minutes—to be with God by either going on a prayer walk (walking in a quiet, recollected manner while praying or talking to God), praying before the Blessed Sacrament, or reflecting on a Scripture passage. Allow God to fill you so that you can bring him to others.

Jesus was a leader who came “among [us] as one who serves” (Lk 22:27). Think about a role in which you are a leader—at school, on a team, in an activity, or even just being an older sibling. How can service become leadership for you? How can leadership become service?