*** DEBUG START ***
*** DEBUG END ***

Interview: Andrea Jaeger former tennis star,now a religious in the US Episcopal Church

04 June 2008

by Terence Handley MacMath

I was called to a religious vocation, and, being obedient to the call, I followed.

Catherine of Siena was a big influence. Most religious vocations have professed vows of poverty, obedience, chastity. I include in mine service, and a few other things.

All my tennis earnings have gone towards helping children with cancer and children and individuals in need. After I left the [tennis] circuit, I put four years of research and programmes that I funded into helping children with cancer and children in need. Then I started my own Little Star Foundation on my birthday, 4 June 1990.

Little Star works to improve the quality of life for children with cancer, and children in need worldwide, all at no cost for families.

I turned pro at 14 and was number two in the world at 16. When I was on the professional tennis circuit, I had a love of helping children and individuals that were sick, in pain, in need of help whether it be from disease, abuse, neglect, war, environment, etc.

My religious vocation enhances my calling to help children.

My order has taught me that everyone receives different gifts. There are individuals in the religious life who struggle with what I just thought was a given: faith and spiritual joy.

As a child, I always felt God’s presence. God was a friend that I spent time with daily. When I was seven years old, my relationship with God became more prominent, where I felt a divine union, a connection that I was happily receptive to, allowing the permanence embedded in my heart, soul, spirit, and life.

I don’t feel my tennis years were wasted. No moment ever is. Tennis provided me with incredible experiences that I still draw on. But was I relieved that I got injured and could go into service full time? Yes.

A book? Enduring Grace by Carol Lee Flinders. Love it.

This is just the short list of my strongest influences on my life: God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit; God’s obedient guardian angels and archangels; the saints, spiritual teachers, and spiritual guides I have recognised; the spiritual teachers and guides I haven’t, but who have helped anyway; Heidi Bookout, Maja Muric, and Judy Pastore of the Little Star Foundation; Daphne Astor, Cindy Crawford, Michael Bloomberg, Ted Forstmann, John McEnroe, Andre Agassi. . . and the children — every one of the amazing and dear children. We are all influenced knowingly and unknowingly by each individual we encounter.

I didn’t grow up in a family where reading the Bible, going to church, or talking about God was part of the norm. So I did not start reading the Bible until my twenties.

I love Acts. I love Jeremiah, especially Jeremiah 33.3.

I live at a place called Rancho Milagro — Ranch of Miracles. It is a spiritual place full of all kinds of beauty. Many chapels and churches and historic towns are all special to me, as well.

John McEnroe asked me before he went on a stage to introduce me at an event: “How do you want to be remembered?” I replied, “I don’t have to be remembered.” But John won the discussion, and I answered: “As a voice for children.” Now in 2008 I would still answer: “I don’t have to be remembered. I do what I am called to do because I am called to do it, not so I am remembered.”

I don’t enjoy encountering bullying. Nor harmful egos, power ploys, driven people, and people using unbecoming methods to achieve their goals. I experienced many of these situations, growing up.

I tend to be the type of person that does not walk away when I cross paths with such a situation. How I react tends to be more based on what I encounter.

Anger is not a good method of communicating. There are other ways. However, when I get cut up driving on the highway, or I just remembered I left my wallet in the grocery cart at the grocery store, laughter and joy usually are not the first things to come to mind.

God gave me a gift of faith and a gift of joy. I have had them ever since I was a child. My overall essence is one of faith and joy. So I am able to have those two qualities in the best and happiest of times, and they spring forth even when I am in intense challenging situations.

My backyard has extraordinary mountain views and nature trails. At least every day, when I am home, I get out and walk my two Bernese Mountain Dogs.

On my travels, I always make sure I include visiting one new place that is fun, even if it is only for a few minutes. It could be a restaurant, museum, church, any place. I enjoy going to the movies; and reading is another activity I love.

From when I was a little child until my thirties, my prayer life was mostly about praise. Now, I have many more prayer requests from people, but the substance still keeps the flow of praise. The union with God is a most wonderful thing, and I am extremely thankful God not only allows union with him, but encourages it.

I would most like to get locked in a church with people who govern the educational system. Why? So we could discuss the importance of providing a more well-rounded and balanced education for children’s minds, hearts, souls, and spirits.

Browse Church and Charity jobs on the Church Times jobsite

Welcome to the Church Times

 

To explore the Church Times website fully, please sign in or subscribe.

Non-subscribers can read four articles for free each month. (You will need to register.)