My family has given me the gift of the living word. They have modeled the influence of the Holy Spirit in their creativity and force of love. I have realized that the loving disposition of my family members toward me and others has been nothing less than the Holy Spirit itself, than God in flesh and action in the most deep, powerful ways.
I feel motivated to act in the advance of peace and love. I define my personal vocation in this fashion. I am in complete spiritual consolation when I allow the Holy Spirit to move in and through me and when I accept the presence of God every day.
My whole family lives and breathes the Holy Spirit in different ways which have influenced and shaped me in ways I may not even be able to articulate. I may not even necessarily be able to feel these influences, but I know they are there and they are a part of me.
My grandparents and ancestors before them have all left their evolutionary imprint on my consciousness in ways that have shaped me into the person I am today. My grandparents were immigrants and their willingness to strike out and take risks embodied a faith that I enjoy today. My mother was a woman of unshakable faith and strength who was pragmatic in her approach to life and family. She went to work for the first time outside the home at the age of 45 to earn salary and health benefits as a cafeteria aide. She worked and sacrificed in a professional position which did not match her intellectual capability, but she served out of necessity and love for her family.
My father was a small, independent grocer who enjoyed success in business only to see his fortunes change and devolve into insolubility as a combination of changing income levels and a shift in living patterns prompted him to sell his business at a loss. His faith was strong as he endured the travails of a failing business, and he was, at times, riddled with self-doubt. Teh strength of his family sustained him, and his personal interests in stamp collecting and swimming helped give him purpose.
One of the reasons my father held on in business as long as he did was that he had a strong sense of social justice. He believed that for the last 10 or so years he worked on John-R that he was doing missionary work at times, as the level of poverty and the disintegration of families increased. He was born to help others, and his life was committed to making the world a better place. He always "rooted for the underdog" and valued the presence of God in all people.
My father has helped to instill a strong sense of justice and fairness in me through his words and actions. He enabled me to see that the world is an inherently unfair place and that injustice exists. Furthermore, in order for me to serve the will and glory of God, I must dedicate my entire life to helping create a grater reality of justice and peace, one person at a time. "Let peace begin with me," of course, is an important notion, as I must truly live the peace and love of God myself first before I can effectively bring it to others.
As combinations of my parents in a new generation, my siblings have all influenced my personal vocation in a myriad of ways. My brother John's magnanimity has always impressed me as an embodiment of his love and kindness which reminds me to conduct myself in the same way. My brother Tom's adventurous spirit infused in me a love of all things new and a willingness to forge new paths in unlikely places. My sister Denise's dedication to service of children with special needs is a constant reminder that Jesus uplifts the "least" among us and they are the most favored in the kingdom of God. My sister Marcia's overwhelming, genuine love of God has always been a challenge to em to discover God in my way, and to deepen my relationship with God. My sister Andrea's love and warmth towards others displayed for me the power of nurturing effective interpersonal relationships. My sister Suzanne's quiet, understated presence teaches me to walk softly and to speak quietly an avoid calling unnecessary attention to myself.
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