I hope James does not mind me piggybacking a little.  I love when other people give me blogging ideas.  It means less work for me!

I was in sixth grade.  This may not come as a surprise given my chosen profession, but I wasn’t exactly the star quarterback at my school.  I was really searching for an identity and a way to make friends.  I had shown an interest and small aptitude for music, but I wasn’t a child prodigy.  I was beginning to lose interest in the piano for more popular activities like basketball, which trust me, would have been a dead end career choice.

There was a nun, Sister Margaret Metro who was the music teacher, played guitar at Masses, and unfortunately was the butt of many jokes.  Sixth grade boys will be sixth grade boys.  Sister Margaret stopped me after class and said Matt you should join the Cincinnati Boychoir.  After I stopped laughing she explained to me that she was very serious.  I then began making excuse after excuse about why I couldn’t join.  After telling me that all my excuses were unacceptable I culminated with the Grand-Daddy of all excuses, that I couldn’t make the audition.  She simply said, “That’s fine, I’ll drive you.”

It would be a tad dramatic to say she saved my life, but every time I reflect on how much I love my job, it’s hard for me to not wonder what would have happened had she not been so committed to whatever it was she saw in me.

Do you have a story of a nun or any type of religious person who affected your life in that special way?  Moreover, now that you are in ministry, are you being the catalyst for young people to recognize the gifts that they may be able to offer to the Church when they are older?

James, thanks for reminding who I should call tomorrow and thank.