What Are Your Gifts?

It has been busy times since we last “visited” via this platform I am blessed with here in our quarterly CANFP NEWS.

In my last article, with my AI inspired challenge to be more intentional in the coming year, I shared some concrete ways we are sharing the good news of NFP, via in person and virtual outreach.

Our board recently discussed the value of communicating in ways that impact a large audience, with efficient tools like printed media, website, social media, email communication, and virtual seminars (like our Tune Up Tuesday). While acknowledging the clear value of these means of advocacy, education, and support, they do not replace the personal encounters that build community and relationships.

Fortunately, it is not an either/or proposition.

I had much time to ponder these things on a road trip that left me refueled by visits with treasured colleagues CANFP brought into my life decades ago, inspired by time spent getting to learn more about the local work of our CANFP members I am getting to know better, and encouraged along the way to introduce CANFP to future members and supporters. The trip began with a lovely evening spent at a teacher appreciation dinner sponsored by Deacon Budnik, Marriage and Family Life Coordinator of the Diocese of Stockton and CANFP Member and Supporter, and hosted by Fr. Mark Wagner, a former board member of CANFP. I gave a parish presentation the next day, before moving on to meetings with NFP teachers, clergy and physicians in the Diocese of Fresno, and then on to the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and the Diocese of Orange, sharing our good news with the 13,000 attendees at the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress. Simultaneously, Fr. Blaise Berg, our CANFP president, introduced CANFP to attendees up north, with medical professionals attending the Converging Roads conference at St. Patrick Seminary, Menlo Park.

I returned in time to join a parish evening event sponsored by St. Francis of Assisi, East Palo Alto, featuring presentations by Fr. Blaise Berg, myself and Dr. Robert Chasuk, which were graciously received by engaged and attentive parishioners.

While, or perhaps because, I spend much of my time tethered to my computer, reaching out to a broader audience with the tools that are so essential to our mission—these in person encounters are so vital and rewarding. NFP is relational, by its very nature, as is our statewide NFP community.

Where do your gifts lie? Are you energized from personal interactions? Are you fulfilled by listening to the story of a caller on the other end of the phone line? Do you leave an outreach or meeting saying that it was so fun sharing our message with those present? Or do you like to create and craft programs and messaging, curled up in the coziness of your home? Do spreadsheets tickle your attention to detail, and a blank canvas trigger vision and a proposal? Does a keyboard and a cup of tea (or glass of wine) call you to share your testimony?

I am grateful to all who support our mission–through their gifts and talents. The need is great—the workers are few. Perhaps you are being called to contribute, in your own way? Imagine the impact we would have changing the culture, if we all pooled our gifts and talents! Because there is no one way to share our mission—it ALL matters! But the reality is, to expand our impact, we must expand our team. When we do our part, bringing His plan for love and life in every way we can, He blesses our efforts! And we have a lot of fun!