Chat with Cat: Impact

I met with a friend for lunch today. This friend is a minister, a consultant, and a work/life coach, and he has some great stories about what he does and has done and the reasons for them. In his work he talks a lot about impact. What is the impact? Why does it matter? How is it meaningful?

Montreat makes an impact on a lot of lives each year. I have heard inspiring stories from those who attended Youth Conferences, those who have worked on Summer Staff, or those who have had other deeply meaningful experiences in this "place set apart." I have felt some of those impacts myself. I walk away better knowing God, better understanding my community; better seeing my calling. Though equally as often (and equally as meaningful) are those times that Montreat experiences have not led me toward any type of "better" but have instead hurled me into confusion or taken me back to square one. How might Montreat (or another special place) have made an impact on you?

Then, perhaps even more importantly, how has that impact directed you to do something that matters? How has your experience led you to make an impact on something or someone else? Maybe time spent on a trail hit you with the interconnectedness of God's creation, and you joined an environmental effort in your community. Maybe working with youth and leading them to express themselves spoke to you, and you became involved with the work of young people in your hometown.

Think about it. How are you carrying on the momentum of the impact? Where did the chain of meaningful experiences begin? And where could it go?

I would love to hear about the impact of your experiences. Please share in the comments section.

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Cat is the Sales Associate at Montreat Conference Center. She loves helping people plan the perfect Montreat Experience and would love to hear from you about how this blog can help you.

Cat can be reached at catw@montreat.org or at @Cat_Montreat.