A living exchange of grace: Service is never one-directional

Service to my faith and to my community has always felt like an offering outward — something given to God, to the Church, and to the people around me. Yet time and again I have discovered that what I receive in return far exceeds what I offer.

When we step forward in service, we think we are filling a need, but somehow God uses those moments to shape us, stretch us, and bless us in ways we never anticipated.

Service is never one-directional; it is a living exchange of grace.

Last year, at the very last minute, I was asked to run the kitchen for the fish fries at St. Kenneth Parish. I remember the knot in my stomach when I agreed — cooking had always been something that brought me anxiety rather than confidence.

But there was no time to overthink it; the parish needed someone, and I said yes. That experience changed me. Coordinating volunteers, managing timing, and seeing everything come together under pressure gave me a sense of calm and competence I had never felt before.

Since then, my anxieties around cooking have disappeared. I am now a far better cook than I ever was, and what once intimidated me has become something I approach with confidence and even joy.

What began as service to my parish became personal growth I could never have manufactured on my own.

For many years I have also sung in church, offering my voice as prayer. Through that ministry, I have developed beautiful relationships with fellow musicians and parishioners. More than that, I have grown into someone people recognize as contributing to their experience of worship.

There is something deeply humbling and profoundly moving when someone tells you they felt the Holy Spirit stirring within them because of something you were doing — a hymn sung with intention, a harmony that lifted the room, a moment of reverent stillness.

In those moments, I am reminded that service is not about performance; it is about becoming a vessel.

God uses even our ordinary talents to touch hearts, and in doing so, strengthens our own faith.

My service to St. Paul of the Cross Passionist Retreat Center has opened yet another door of grace. There I have found an entirely new family of like-minded people whose charisma resonates deeply with what I have always felt stirring in my own heart.

Being part of that community has drawn me closer to God and more in tune with what I believe He intends for my life.

In serving alongside others who share that spiritual depth and commitment, I feel supported, understood, and called forward.