Sunday, July 20, 2008

A note from Marta Swanner

July 18th

Jesus has showed me something amazing today. So yesterday, I started to lose my voice. Actually at night I sounded like a forty year old man. Everyone laughed...myself included. But I woke up this morning and the "man" was gone. Every sound had left. I have no voice. I suppose my loss of speech arose from me singing my heart out at the Matt Maher concert last night. I felt so close to God; I couldn't help but speak out.

Anyway, this morning I woke up and had no voice. I was worried that I was going to have a boring day. I was so wrong. My group has taken my loss and made it in an interest. I'm excited to try to communicate through my hands and smiles...the smiling especially. This morning at the bus stop, I felt oddly happy, so I began to wave at people passing by. Father thought I was crazy. I didn't care with each person I saw the child of God. And with each person passing by I became happier. By the time the bus arrived I was loopy with smiles. I love how Catholics ar ecalled to love like Jesus. That's got to be my favorite part of being Catholic. Well, that and seeing Jesus face to face; that's pretty awesome too. But when I was on the bus, my loopiness changed to contemplation.

I realized that why I was so happy was because deep down I knew that even if the person didn't smile back or wave or even acknowledge me, that I would be in their day...hopefully a bright spot in their day. It's amazing what one act of kindness can do. I I just remembered! The bishop yesterday at the catechetical session was talking about random acts of kindness. Anyway, during this entire trip, I've been thinking about my vocation. Well, I think I'm called to show my love of God's people to the world. I don't know how and I don't know where or when. But that's what I feel God is calling me to do.

So today will be a silent day for my voice, but today will be an overjoyed day where I speak and praise God through my actions and body.

"Praise God always, use words when necessary (sic)" -St. Francis of Assisi

Marta Swanner

3 comments:

Anita Kapchinski said...

Dear Marta - your beautiful comments sound almost like you were asleep and now you are waking. We have always known that you are destined to show others the joy and happiness we can all find in following Christ. The Holy Spirit has always shone through your lovely smile and expressive eyes and face, but it appears that you are just waking up to it! Take care of your voice - don't force it and don't try to talk or sing too much at first - you can do more damage to it that way. Just "be still" and know that He is before you, behind you, and all around you!

Mrs. Kap

Unknown said...

I've often felt the same way, & people would treat me the same way when I was an older Aggie always saying "Howdy!" to everyone.
I know its a tradition to others, but I think a really sad thing that ya helped to prevent Marta was someone you said hello to being able to say that they encountered a quarter to half a million Christians & not a single one of them said hello :)
Well done, good & faithful one!

Anonymous said...

Maaaarta! That's AMAZING! Can't wait to hear more about your experiences when you guys get back (tomorrow, the 23rd, i guess??).

love,
Johanna