Inspiring People Part II

November 4, 2009

As I said yesterday, I have another person who inspires me that I want to share with you…my friend, Cooper. 
I have known Cooper for 12 years.  We met at a Catholic Leadership Institute (CLI) at University of Notre Dame the summer after I graduated high school.  Cooper was one of the leaders of CLI.  At the time he was the Associate Director of the Youth Ministry Office at the Diocese of Baton Rouge.  He later became the Director of Youth Ministry for the Diocese of Baton Rouge.  He and I got to work together for two years as members of the Christian Formation Secretariat at the diocese.  Ever since I have known him, he has had the dream of traveling around the country to use his gift of speaking and music to reach young people around the country.  Right after I left the diocese to have Brady, Cooper decided to take a big risk.  He left his job at the diocese in order to pursue whole-heartedly his dream of speaking and writing music.  This was 2 years ago. 
Just yesterday, I received a message via a facebook update, that Cooper’s dream has come true.  He recently was picked up as an artist by the Spirit and Song community.  This is a group of widely known Catholic artists such as Tom Booth, Steve Angrisano, Sarah Hart, Matt Maher, etc.  He also recorded and released his first solo CD titled “Wake the Dawn”.  I have been listening to it via his website, and I am very impressed.  One of my favorite songs on there is his recording of Delirious’ “Lord, You Have My Heart”, which Coop sang at our wedding 6 ½ years ago.
Cooper took a leap of faith 2 years ago to pursue his dream.  With the support of his wife, Laura, and a heart of faith, Coop’s dream became a reality.  Coop believed in his dream, he trusted that God would provide the way and the opportunity.  
I am so excited to watch him live out his calling! 
Today’s question, “Where are we are called to take a risk in faith?”

Becky is an Ignatian-trained spiritual director, retreat facilitator, and writer. She is the author of the Busy Lives and Restless Souls (March 2017, Loyola Press) and The Inner Chapel (April 2020, Loyola Press). She helps others create space to connect faith and everyday life through facilitating retreats and days of reflection, through writing, and through spiritual direction. With nearly twenty years of ministry experience within the Catholic Church, Becky seeks to help others discover God at work in the every day moments of people’s lives by utilizing St. Ignatius’ Spiritual Exercises and the many gifts that our Catholic faith and Ignatian Spirituality provide.

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