There have been months passing me by. They have been spent basking in the sun, running around with medium to large children, playing in water and trees and on mountain tops. These days, I find myself spending more hours in a concrete box within a concrete jungle. But there is life in it.
I've recently taken up an opportunity to serve as a chaplain on campus at Mount Royal University. It really feels like many dreams coming together as one beautiful gift. I have the privilege of building relationships with students, having meaningful conversations of faith and life and how they mix together. The focus of my day are names, being present to students. Seeking out students. There is no curriculum to uphold, there is no expectation of numbers. I almost can't believe it's real.
I spend my days booking coffee dates, sitting in the office and
having lunch with whoever drops in, praying with students and church
leaders and faculty, planning how students can engage deeper with the
Creator, providing opportunities for students to connect with community.
I have had the opportunity to meet a number of students already and share stories over tea. I met a fiery girl named Dara who walked in darkness for a while. All throughout these dark times, she was very aware of a Spiritual Being who loved and cared for her. Her story is amazing. Light versus darkness. Light won.
I hope the same for another fellow I met. He practices Wicca. Working in multi-faith, this is not something that would stir me as much as this fellow did. We asked if he came from a different faith background and he said Christian. He justified why he moved from Christianity to Wicca and it broke my heart the claims he made on Christianity that just weren't true. It saddened me that this is how Christianity is viewed. This is how Christians have manipulated and distorted Jesus. This is how I've manipulated and distorted Jesus. My prayer and hope is that I can represent the Gospel - God's good story - in its purity and fullness of truth.
I partner with University Campus Ministries to be able to do this. They contribute a portion of money for my well-being (well for mine and Will's since he's studying), but the remaining space in our budget is up for grabs. Please let me know if you'd like to contribute and partner with me. I'm hoping to raise a few more hundred each month.
Love love,
Kristal
