At the end of every school year we all take a deep sigh and say “Thank God it’s over”, we go and enjoy our summers, we go on trips, we get involved in more Church services, we pick up a job that we are interested in… and the cycle of doing things we are comfortable with continues. I’ve been thinking about the term “comfort zone” for some time. At a huge family gathering, I may find myself sticking by my siblings or parents, or at huge OCCM events I may find myself sticking up those two friends that I’ve known since kindergarten. But… What if Christ Himself is telling you to go out of your comfort zone? In reality, we find ourselves not mentioning the name of God in front of the person who fills up your car tank, or the wawa worker or when a classmates asks “How is your day”, you would normally answer “It’s good thank God” but in this case, you start “It’s good…” and you take a second and stop. A few weeks ago my manager was thankful because something good happened at work, she then looked at me and said “God was with us today”, I wanted to say “God is always with us!” but did I say it? No, I didn’t. I’m repenting as I’m writing this article and the only verse that is ringing in my head is “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and a sound mind” (2 Tim 1:7)

 Our mission this year in OCCM is titled “In Christ” because if we take a look to realize that every single person walking around campus, grabbing a bite at Woody’s, playing the piano in the DCC is in Christ and is a child of God after all, our hearts would not stand but start to outpour fountains of love, compassion and tears for the salvation of each person. (Good thing this is anonymous, I can share this) Sometimes I think of how God has *insert name* hairs of their head numbered, yet that person does not know God and I shake on the inside. We are in Christ! We are evangelists! 

We are the people whom God looks at with great potential that we do not actually possess! 

Let’s look at 1 Kings 5 to understand a couple of points that will help us put into perspective the urgency of fulfilling God’s calling. 1 Kings start off with the death of King David and Solomon becoming the new king. If we can recall anything about David we would recall that all he ever wanted was to build a temple, he says “Zeal for Your house has eaten me up”(Psalm 69: 9). King David never got to build the temple. But his great desire was indeed embedded in Solomon’s heart that the first thing he started to plan once he became king was preparing to build the temple. And here we stop at our first note: We must realize that whatever seed we plant, we do not have to be the ones who make the plants grow. If your Sunday school class graduates and is going off to middle school or high school or college, we must realize that we do not have to be the ones doing the shaping and changing of hearts and ways. God uses each of us as tools in someone’s life for a period of time and for only a specific period of time! (That is not to say that we shouldn’t follow up) the jump start can happen because you took initiative but other people can take shifts in driving the car. Back to 1 Kings 5… “You know how my father David could not build a house for the name of the Lord his God because of the wars which were fought against him on every side, until the Lord put his foes under the soles of his feet” (1 Kings 5: 3), every road block may arise of the way to fulfilling a certain mission or service that God has put on your heart, but we must trust that God puts those roadblocks under the soles of our feet! Nothing can stop the work of God and the work of His kingdom! Fr. Tadros Malaty states over and over again saying “Your plan for the salvation of the souls O Lord, is ever working”. King Solomon remembers the promise of God to his father and him “Your son, whom I will set on your throne in your place, he shall build the house for My name”, just remembering the promise of God made King Solomon comprehend the sense of urgency to complete the work on God; therefore, he sent Hiram telling him to gather the best wood from the best trees and gathered all to the calling by which he was called! The urgency of the calling is beautiful, it is done in Christ Jesus! 

May we remember God saying “My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways”! May He always use us as tools in His hands and fulfill our purpose :)