Time and time again, in work and play, in hectic schedules and down-time, I am reminded how lucky I am to be placed in Wexford, Ireland. When my facebook feed brought up a photo from 2 years ago, I looked at the girl in the photo and I thought, “You had no idea what was in store for you.” A very millennial description, but a very telling realization – that God really does have plans for us and we may never really know what those plans will look like until hindsight kicks in.
From the first mention of the House of Brigid, I was told that it was the “perfect fit” for me, and I still deeply feel that way after two years of being in the program; however, I could never have predicted why it was perfect for me. Way back when, I was able to get small glimpses of what the program looked like from the outside, but I was from Arizona, a desert-dweller and a non-Notre Dame student. I had always loved the idea of traveling to Europe, but the combination of multiple experiences – music ministry, community living and prayer, as well as Irish music and culture – is what really kept my interest.
Yet, I had no idea what to expect when I got on a plane to live in a new country and to work with people from completely different backgrounds. In August 2016, when I arrived to Notre Dame campus and later Irish soil, I started to experience the culture shock of both the university and the Irish culture, but the shock was more of a learning experience than a smack in the face. When you’re placed in an environment without neither the previous comforts of usual surroundings nor having friends and family close by, you start to see yourself in a rawer light. Like a small budding plant under a new sun, you begin to realize how big the world really is and how much you want to grow into it. As with anything new, lived experience tends to shatter previous expectations and simultaneously stretches us to be flexible and trusting, and in that surrendering pliability, we can grow in whatever ways present themselves.
I cannot fully articulate any insights, profound lessons or practical examples because it would be impossible to effectively communicate in a blog post. What I can say is that I believe the House of Brigid program excellently affirms each member’s strengths and weakness by combining and refining us. Through Teach Bhride, we are given a great opportunity to give and receive our faith, neither spoon-fed nor blind, and our unique personalities on a daily-basis. I can only speak for myself, but I know that these years in Ireland and in ministry, I’ve learned much more about myself and others than I could have in any classroom or work environment. Much more than from any book, online article or personality test. I’ve learned that people are not easily boxed in to our earthly descriptions because we’re created by a Divine, unearthly source. As carefully-crafted souls, we cannot be confined to our culture, region, age, Meyers-Briggs type, birth order, or belief; therefore, we cannot expect to view each other or ourselves as we sometimes are expected to. We are different in many ways, but have the same needs, more or less. In this way, we are all the same, but we realize it on different walks of life. God knows these two mysterious truths and is very aware of our capacity to interact and grow with one another, so that through these relationships, we can find Him once again.
In this season of Lent, we are asked to let God lead us to even deeper self-knowledge, so that we can more intimately know Him and let him heal us. He makes us perfectly and He leads us as much as we want to follow Him. I can say with confidence that God has indeed been our shepherd; He’s led us this far and He will continue to make new paths for me and for my dear friends to grow in unexpected ways.
Psalm 23
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
In verdant pastures he gives me repose;
beside restful waters he leads me;
he refreshes my soul. He guides me in right paths
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk in the dark valley
I fear no evil; for you are at my side
With your rod and your staff
that give me courage.
