Grace abounds again. There was a whole list of difficulties that came with planning, actually attending the Lower Midwest Family Vacation this July in Tennessee, and then recovering in the days that followed. However, what remains for me is the grace that abounds.

The vacation included lovely, albeit humid, hikes that I was unable to participate in with my friends and family due to homework deadline, on-point games for the whole family, meals prepared for all, passionate singing, and evening presentations that I wasn't able to fully attend given that the limits of my young children became my limits too.

A recent suggestion from a friend who heard me sharing my desire to follow came to mind several times, even with all of the very real limits that seem to be impediments to living among community and carrying the charism into the world at times. My friend told me that in certain moments, living one's vocation intensely is a way of following in and of itself, to the point that one doesn't miss anything. We are asked to make an offering of the meager participation that is possible. This is what is "rewarded" with an abundance of grace and mercy. It was pointed out one evening that it has been 25 years or so since the charism of Communion and Liberation was discovered in Evansville in a most unusual way and that it has continued to grow in light and darkness ever since. Our community is a fruit of this offering.

This year I worked with other parents who wanted to propose a meaningful way to offer morning prayer with the children. Inspired by Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, we made another ironic attempt. We spoke about Ordinary Time of liturgical year being the growing season, when the apostles, and we, are sent out on mission. Kids planted seeds and we spoke about what’s needed and provided by the Father for life to exist and thrive. Each day we read a part of the daily morning prayer and children made art with watercolor and colored pencils. It was a point of unity with the adults’ morning prayer. The kids also heard the story of Odysseus, and how he took risks. It became an entry point to discuss how the way that we follow and take risks sets us apart from the rest of creation. Children and the leaders spoke about risks, how we know what’s a worthy, meaningful risk and how we discern what risks can lead us to grow. It was suggested that we can always pray for protection, guidance, and perseverance throughout this process of discernment. Morning prayer with the children became the primary way that I stayed with others and made an offering, asking others to join me in this endeavor.

At a time that perhaps so many are having all sorts of crises, I felt myself crying out - that we all discover the shape our offering takes. It became a proposal with which to begin the days on vacation together, making an offering! Our community in the Lower Midwest is maturing - children who have grown up in the movement are offering themselves and their parents, our friends, are moved to tears, seeing the fruit of a life lived and a life that is far from over. But they weren't just "helpers." I observed that the world doesn't just need more well-intentioned "helpers", but rather more who see what's provided for us and how to make an offering - no matter how poor the offering appears to us to be. To begin again each day, asking what God gives me to offer back to Him is quite an amazing gift and I'm eager to see what more comes. Among friends we see our offerings and requests for healing, guidance, accompaniment, and even protection from evil fulfilled over time.

Julie, Evansville