Coffee Makers, Dresses Inside-Out, and Jesus the Lamp Trimmer

It was a briskly cold morning of a whopping 8 degrees above zero. I girded what I could feel of my loins, loaded the van with an extra large coffee maker, rolls, caramel sauce, and cream, and drove to church.

Once a month, my Blessed Conversations group gets together at our parish and we walk through our study together. But first we slide into the creaky pews of early Saturday morning Mass, a Mass with Gregorian Chant and incense, Latin, and a super-short sermon. Then we head over to the parish hall for coffee, something homemade, and sisterhood.

And yet every month, I'm disheartened beforehand. "Why do I offer to lead these things? I have nothing to offer." My husband nods while flipping eggs, pancakes, the toddler. He's heard it before. "Just go and open the space for the Holy Spirit, lovie." And so I do. It's always more than worth the frostbit fingers and that one time I wore my dress inside out and discovered mid-talking from the podium.

Jesus said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be placed under a bushel basket or under a bed, and not to be placed on a lampstand?" (Mark 4:21)

I don't know what your lamp is, sister. Maybe it's journeying with families of the kids you teach. Maybe it's listening to your teens and sorting out their drama and college applications. Maybe it's building friendships in the dorms. I do know your lamp needs tending. Your wick needs a trim and that oil needs a refill. And we cannot fully service it ourselves. I'm gonna ask Our Lord to help with mine so I can keep blazing for Him. It's all about Him. It always has been.

It's all about Him. It always has been.Click to tweet

Feeling called to go further along in your faith journey along with one sister or many? See what our writers have written for you in the Blessed Conversations series.

Nell O'Leary is a recovering lawyer turned blogger, speaker, and sewer of baby goods while tending to her husband and four kiddos in the great city of Saint Paul, Minnesota. She serves as Managing Editor for Blessed is She and can down a hot cocoa in no time flat. Find out more about her here. She is the editor of our Blessed Conversations Series and guide for the Gift of You Series.