On My Way

In a few minutes, I'll be heading for Camp Coast Care, in Long Beach, Mississippi. This is a relief center run by the Lutheran Episcopal Services in Mississippi to continue to help locals rebuild their lives after last year's hurricanes. I have no idea of what I'll be doing for three days. I may be helping to clean up houses, or paint, maybe even be working at the camp itself. I'm really just glad that I have made the committment to go help in whatever way I can.

I'm heading down with nine other parishoners of St, Matthews, none of whom I know very well. It will make for an interesting car drive. Will anyone want to listen to Los Guys or The Violent Femmes? We're taking 3 cars (including our Pilot ... thanks again for the sacrifce, Mim), and we're leaving at midnight, so I guess we'll see in a few minutes.

I had meant to nap for the past four hours, but one someone in the neighborhood was having a party, and I'm so wired up in anticipation that I just tossed and turned. I'm nervous about the trip, but this is also the first time in about three years that I have spent a week away from Miriam, and the first time I have ever spent time away from Mason II. I know they'll be fine, but I still feel guilty for leaving them.

All my life, I have wanted to be a "good person" ... someone that selflessly helped others, put the needs of others ahead of my own. In reality, I haven't done any of that. Sure, I donate to NPR, and I've been using Working Assets long distances for ever, but I haven't made very many personal sacrifces. Every time I look at Mason II, I wonder what kind of example am I setting. I want him to see that helping others isn't something he should do "some day," but something that he can do at any point. It doesn't always have to be a grand gesture (like spending a week away from your family to donate three days of manual labor), but I want helping, loving, to be second nature for him. This trip is a start for showing myself that I can be this better person, too.

I'll be taking pictures and blogging as best as I can. For some pcitures from last year, check out these archives from Father Rob's blog: September
October
November.

I better get going. Wish me luck.