APRIL 2020
your opus. And attend to continued intellectual nourishment. What do you want to learn? A new language? Go to community college?
Let go of the performance addiction where we might believe that “I am good because of the work I do. God loves me because of the work I do.” When we are younger, sometimes we think we need to overwork to prove we are worthy of God’s love. But now we know that is unnecessary.
God’s love for us makes us worthy. And finally, tend to your spiritual needs. Find a faith community that provides you spiritual nourishment. Consider your personal prayer and develop a prayer pattern. Te AARP survey found that three-quarters of those in their 60s say they pray every day and that religion has grown more important to them.
Take this opportunity to reflect on how God has been active throughout your life. Discern where Christ is calling you. If you’ve always wanted to be involved in other ministries beyond music— lectoring, art and environment, ministry to the homebound—now is a time to answer that call.
May the Lord bless you in your times of transition and change, may your recalibration be grace-filled, and may you continue to use your gifts in service to the mission of Christ.
Robert J. McCarty, D.Min., is an author, ministry educator and administrator. He served previously as executive director of the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry (NFCYM) and is the project coordinator
for the Saint Mary’s Press research, Going, Going Gone: Te Dynamics of Disaffiliation in Young Catholics. Dr. McCarty is also assisting NPM’s board, staff and membership in another recalibration-- developing and implementing the plan for NPM 2.0.
VOICES
Whether you leave the job, or the job leaves you, change can be both heart-wrenching and life-giving
MURDY Adrian, Michigan
After 17 years as director of music at her West Bend, Wisconsin, parish, Jill Maria Murdy walked into a budget meeting in January 2019, and found out her full- time position was being eliminated due to budget cuts. She had until June to find a job. As a single woman, a homeowner, and someone established in the community, the change to come meant leaving her whole life behind.
It was easy to let go of . . . I’m sorry, but I can’t say any of it was easy. Te process was devastating, for me, and for the parish. Several people left over the decision to get rid of my position. I determined I would take the high road and not speak ill of anyone, for the good of the parish. I had to convince several cantors and choir members that they shouldn’t step down over my departure. Te way they could honor me best would be to continue the ministry. To remember it wasn’t all about me, but the parish.
But during those months of job searching and preparing to leave, I learned to put myself first. I couldn’t worry about what was going on at the parish or fixing something. “Not my circus, not my monkeys” came to mind a few times.
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JILL MARIA
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