Wendy Kachermeyer

From: Wendy Kachermeyer

The following lines were penned by a young pastor in Africa and tacked to a wall in his house.

Could you have written these words?

My commitment as a Christian

I’m part of the fellowship of the unashamed. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I’m a disciple of Jesus Christ. I won’t look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, and my future is secure. I’m finished and done with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, mundane talk, cheap living, and dwarfed goals.

I no longer need prosperity, position, promotions, or popularity. I don’t have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded or rewarded. I now live by faith, lean on His presence, walk by patience, lift by prayer, and labor by power.

My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way rough, my companions few, my Guide reliable, my mission clear. I cannot be bought, deluded, or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of the adversary, negotiate at the table of the enemy, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.

I won’t give up, shut up, let up, until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, and preached up for the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus. I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till all know, and work till he stops me. And when He comes for His own, He will have no problem recognizing me—my banner will be clear!

A few years ago I was given this inspiring message and it sits on my computer stand at home beckoning for me to read it every time I sit here. It doesn’t really matter who wrote this wonderfully thought out note. It fits every Christian who lives with Christ in the center of their life. Its rousing words make me want to move into action for our dear Lord, Jesus. Not just interiorly but wholly with everything that is me. Everything that Christ has made me and enthused in the depths of my interior world that He created. They are the words we can all live by. It is a presence of Christ within us that causes a person to fulfilling their Baptismal promises that are brought to fullness in Confirmation and strengthen weekly with Holy Eucharist.

We can live these expressions!!! All we need to do is have a world centered and focused on our relationship with Jesus and His mystical body. This focus will cause a reaction that cannot be overcome by negative, unkind, unloving evil. Stop being a pessimist and turn your thoughts to the straight and narrow path and do what needs to be done to remind His people that He is here in the Catholic Church in the fullness of life.

Go to receive the Sacrament of Penance. It will clean your soul so you can do the work you have been called to do. Don’t be afraid! Just do it and move on to the path of Holy Week. This special time when we live in these moments with Christ this week will remind you and me of how much we are loved.

Wendy Kachermeyer is Director of Religious Education and R.C.I.A (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church, Dunkirk, NY , email comments to Wendy at reledseas@yahoo.com