Here’s another occupational hazard of pushing Go Forth: eventually, someone in your own family starts doing the sort of thing you’ve been encouraging everyone else to do. Then you have to resist taking credit for an operation in which your actual contribution amounted to a few light pointers and suggestions.

I am resisting. Mostly.

My daughter is almost twenty-one. She’s been dealing with some of the usual stresses that come with that age — when you’re technically an adult, but life has apparently neglected to send the instruction manual — and reaching out to her faith.

I suggested she spend some time at the Adoration Chapel at my old parish, where she hasn’t attended regularly in a while.

She went. And while she was there, she ran into someone who remembered her.

A Familiar Face at the Chapel

The woman still runs the parish’s faith formation program for kids from grade school through high school. My daughter remembered her fondly from her time in RCIA, and the feeling was mutual. Both were delighted to see each other.

It was one of those encounters that could easily have ended with a warm conversation and a sincere promise to keep in touch. We’ve all had those. Some of us have enough outstanding promises to keep in touch that we should probably hire a personal assistant.

A few weeks later, I asked my daughter whether they’d stayed in contact. They’d spoken once since the chapel visit. I lightly suggested she reach out again.

That was about the extent of it. Sometimes our kids need a little suggestion from Dad and a lot more community around them. People who remember them, take an interest, and help them find their footing. Dad can point toward a door without appointing himself chairman of everything on the other side.

She reached out. They caught up some more. And this time, something useful surfaced.

Apparently, the Parish Could Use a Hairdresser

My daughter recently finished school and became a certified hairdresser. When she mentioned that, the woman immediately thought of some older women and shut-ins in the parish who could benefit from her skills.

One person knew how to help. The other knew who needed it.

That’s a pretty good starting point.

One thing led to another, and my daughter scheduled a Saturday at the parish to help some of these women with their hair and styling.

Think about what that can mean to someone who has difficulty getting out or keeping up with things she once did easily. Someone making time for her. Paying attention. Helping her feel cared for and a little more like herself.

There’s dignity in that. There’s also something wonderfully practical about being able to say, “I know how to do this, and I can do it for you.”

Of course, once Saturday was on the calendar, my daughter began to suspect she might have bitten off more than she could chew.

Which brings us to the next phone call.

The Part Where One Hairdresser Becomes a Crew

I suggested she ask some of the other girls at work whether they’d like to help.

To her delight, many volunteered.

It turns out people who spend their working days helping others look and feel better can get enthusiastic about doing that for women who could use a hand. They just needed someone to ask.

The salon owner was enthusiastic too. And, thinking like a salon owner, he wondered whether they could put the salon’s name on the effort for a little public relations benefit.

Everyone was fine with that.

As a marketing guy, I could hardly object. In the Bosco Junior Trades Squad, I managed to create a logo for children watering plants, looking after our dogs and handling other odd jobs. This man at least had an actual salon to put on the sign.

If the business gets some goodwill while helping women in the parish, wonderful. The women are still getting the care. The volunteers are still showing up. There is room on the sign for the salon’s name.

How This Actually Got Moving

The Saturday is still ahead of us, so this isn’t a report about a finished event. It’s a report about how one got started.

A young woman reached toward her faith. She encountered someone who was glad to see her. They stayed in touch long enough to learn something useful. A skill met a need. A date went on the calendar. And when the work looked bigger than one person could handle, she invited others to join her.

That’s a Go Forth progression you can use almost anywhere.

I’m especially glad my daughter found a familiar face as she was finding her way back toward parish life. Someone remembered her warmly, took an interest in what she was doing, and recognized that she had something to offer.

Being welcomed matters. Being invited to contribute can deepen that welcome. You begin to discover your place among people by doing something with them.

And sometimes, the next useful thing grows out of a conversation you almost didn’t follow up on.

Your Turn

Think of someone you were glad to run into recently. Have you followed up?

Start there. Learn what they’re doing, what they know how to do, and where they could use a hand. You may discover a need you can meet — or realize you know someone who can.

Then make the connection. Put something on the calendar. If it turns out to be more than you can handle, ask a few people to help.

My daughter went to the chapel with some things on her mind. Now she has a Saturday on the calendar and a crew coming with her.

I’m happy to leave the organizing to her and the salon crew. Watching her find encouragement, friendship, and a way to serve is plenty for Dad.

Although if they need a cool name for the effort, “Curl Up and Pray” popped right into my head. Just sayin’.