Taken from the opening Mass at the Düsseldorf Stadium:

from Cardinal Karl Lehmann..... [...] "Nevertheless, he said, there is a more important reason to convince people to make a journey: the 'call of God'. We can recognise this, the Cardinal said, by the fact that 'he pulls us out of the masses, where we would be able to stay hidden.' In other words, God frequently calls us to follow an uncomfortable path. Anyone who follows it, he said, should not 'simply be pursuing his or her own private edification or individual spiritual longings'.[...]

WOW, now those are some powerful words. Would you agree? How many of us would rather stay right where we are, doing our own little thing? This especially reminds me of the young men out there who may be called into the priesthood. I have no idea how that process would go. But I do pray for the men who may be thinking of the ecclesiastical vocation.

But what about the rest of us; the everyday, average Joe or Jane? I must admit I am not a "get out and get-r-done" person. No, I'd much rather stay right here in the comforts of my home, being a mom and raising decent children, running a household, having the privilege of talking and socializing with my friends, perhaps going back to school myself, even running a business, going to Mass on Sundays, ad infinitum. But I know in my heart that life is much, much more then what I have just listed.

It's also about stepping out of my comfort zone. Whether it be helping someone in need, volunteering for a charitable cause, writing letters to soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan, stepping out and saying "NO" to abortion and to help that cause, lifting up the youth in our community, ad infinitum to that list as well. I know ya'll can add to that list. So, how about it? What else can you do for your fellow man, your community, your church?