Well, as many of you might know, my football season is over. I did my best this year, nothing wrong with that. I'm not going to lie though, I miss it. There is something missing from my life from 3 until 7 every day.
It is weird though, as at this point, I think, wow, I have so much more time to get stuff done. But that time fills up, and I have not really seen the advantage of putting different projects or trips to the store or games of pick up basketball in that time slot. Honestly, I can't replace football.
Now, you might not care about my problems with finding a way to get to the next football season. You might not even care about football. But I want you to think about your life with God. Yup, God and football relate. Now you don't have to pray for four hours a day, I think God would even say that that is a little much. But, imagine your life without God, or if your life does not include God, think about where he would fit in it.
Taking God out of your life is like taking away your foundation. Sure, worries, anxieties, and stress are all part of life, but for me, they stop with God's grace. My belief that he knows what is best for me allows me to hedge some of those worries, and put them on the back burner so I can focus on getting my work done. Without God in my life, those worries would overtake me, paralyze me, and inhibit anything I am trying to get done. You don't normally think of it this way, but without God, there really isn't any fun or real happiness. You can trace your good times to God much of the time, as believing in him helps you relax, even if you have a lot on your plate.
You might be one of those people who are currently without a constant reminder of God in your life. Put Him there. Put Him next to you. Think about Him and what He wants, which is always the best for you. You may need to take some time out of your day to get that influence in there, but it is worth it. All you have to do is pick up a Bible, a prayer book, or go to Church, then go from there. People make a lot of bad commitments in their lives, God is something you can to commit to and that you will never regret.
I say all of this in light of the Christmas season. The Angel said that Jesus would be named "Emmanuel," which means, "God is with us." Talk about divine intervention, would you want anything else? Sure a Nintendo Wii is a nice gift, but how about God for Christmas? If He is already in your life, do not take Him for granted, and if possible, make Him a bigger part of it. If He is missing, now is not a better time to fit Him into your life. See Him as a baby, and take the journey with him. God sent that baby, to save us, and be with us every step of the way.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Busy Day...
Tough day for this one...two tests this afternoon. So I will be back with a new post tomorrow, see you then.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Happy Advent
Well it is here. What, you did not see it coming? Amidst stories in the news like Tiger Woods being the next sports hero to bite the dust, another Notre Dame coach getting fired, and the fresh story of Barack Obama sending 30,000 troops to Afghanistan, Advent came this past weekend. I think our preparation time for Christmas could not have come at a better time. It looks like we might need a distraction from the distractions, and I'm pretty sure this season needs to be the answer.
It starts with the Gospel from this past week, and one quote from the Lord Jesus sticks out, especially for the college kids out there.
"Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life..."
Well, that's college in a nutshell: partying and exams. Ask any college kid of what they've thought about the most the past few weeks, and those two things will probably be extremely high on the totem pole. Yet, Jesus tells us to not fall in that thought process. This is the best time to cast those thoughts aside. Sure, you have to do well, but if you work hard, what is there to be anxious about? When you look back in twenty years are you going to remember one test you did not do well on?
God is telling us to relax. It's amazing how the Bible shows us just how timeless it is. It is the start of Advent, and the start of finals week, but God wants us to be able to take time out to focus our hearts on what is truly important. That is being a better person and getting closer to God, in preparation for his Birth.
We all know it is so difficult to focus in this day and age, with instant gratification often at our fingertips. Look at any of the biggest sports figures, as Tiger Woods' lapse in morality is just another blip on the radar, it can be tough when you have to look deep into the crevices of any political or sports roster and find someone who has an actual clean record.
That loss of focus is with us as well. Yet, the Catholic church needs you. Even the priest at my home parish said that enthusiasm is lacking as a whole. You can just feel the down feeling over the course of the Mass. New churches, that serve pizza and are apparently more "entertaining," are taking lifelong parishioners away. The things is, Catholicism is not about being entertained. I've said many times before, you are always not going to leave with a great feeling, you might feel like you got slapped in the face. But, you are better because of it. All God wants is enthusiasm and faithfulness, why not bring it for an hour every week? It's Advent, so maybe it is time to start over and become more dedicated to what is really important. The Gospel's message becomes more evident here doesn't it? Church is not for carousing, you know that.
So, get a fresh start. Get your homework, projects, and studying done, and come down to Muller Chapel or just your favorite quiet spot for awhile. Spend some time every single day to think about what Jesus brought to us the day he was born. I think of hope for a better future. With that thought, why not let the enthusiasm flow? Just make sure to keep the main thing, the main thing.
It starts with the Gospel from this past week, and one quote from the Lord Jesus sticks out, especially for the college kids out there.
"Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life..."
Well, that's college in a nutshell: partying and exams. Ask any college kid of what they've thought about the most the past few weeks, and those two things will probably be extremely high on the totem pole. Yet, Jesus tells us to not fall in that thought process. This is the best time to cast those thoughts aside. Sure, you have to do well, but if you work hard, what is there to be anxious about? When you look back in twenty years are you going to remember one test you did not do well on?
God is telling us to relax. It's amazing how the Bible shows us just how timeless it is. It is the start of Advent, and the start of finals week, but God wants us to be able to take time out to focus our hearts on what is truly important. That is being a better person and getting closer to God, in preparation for his Birth.
We all know it is so difficult to focus in this day and age, with instant gratification often at our fingertips. Look at any of the biggest sports figures, as Tiger Woods' lapse in morality is just another blip on the radar, it can be tough when you have to look deep into the crevices of any political or sports roster and find someone who has an actual clean record.
That loss of focus is with us as well. Yet, the Catholic church needs you. Even the priest at my home parish said that enthusiasm is lacking as a whole. You can just feel the down feeling over the course of the Mass. New churches, that serve pizza and are apparently more "entertaining," are taking lifelong parishioners away. The things is, Catholicism is not about being entertained. I've said many times before, you are always not going to leave with a great feeling, you might feel like you got slapped in the face. But, you are better because of it. All God wants is enthusiasm and faithfulness, why not bring it for an hour every week? It's Advent, so maybe it is time to start over and become more dedicated to what is really important. The Gospel's message becomes more evident here doesn't it? Church is not for carousing, you know that.
So, get a fresh start. Get your homework, projects, and studying done, and come down to Muller Chapel or just your favorite quiet spot for awhile. Spend some time every single day to think about what Jesus brought to us the day he was born. I think of hope for a better future. With that thought, why not let the enthusiasm flow? Just make sure to keep the main thing, the main thing.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Thank you CELEBS
A trip to Billy Way's CELEBS bible study meeting on Monday night was not only cleansing physically, but spiritually as well. We all know it can be hard at times to read the bible and fully understand and get what we need out of each passage. This was my chance at focusing on a few verses and really analyzing what God was saying.
A group of about 10 of us took about 40 minutes to look over Luke 17:11-19. I know you are looking at a computer screen, so take a look at the passage below...
Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. 12As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance 13and called out in a loud voice, "Jesus, Master, have pity on us!"14When he saw them, he said, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were cleansed.15One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16He threw himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.17Jesus asked, "Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" 19Then he said to him, "Rise and go; your faith has made you well."
Sure, this happened thousands of years ago, but as you look more closely, these words really relate to the present time.
With Thanksgiving around the corner, the idea of thankfulness is clearly evident here. Sure, we have the day of Turkey, stuffing, and mashed potatoes to make us think about what we are thankful for, but what about on a daily basis? We all have our problems, like the lepers, and when God cleanses us of those worries, are we thankful? In this passage, the nine lepers who did not come back did what many of us do after our problems are solved, move on to the next worry in their lives. It is like when you get a test back you had been worrying about: you do better than you thought, but instead of taking a step back and thanking God for that gift of knowledge, you start thinking about an argument you had with a friend or the fact you might not be happy with your girlfriend or boyfriend at the time. All Jesus wanted was for those nine lepers to take a step back and thank God for His good works. He wants us for that too.
It is not that hard or time consuming to be thankful, all you really need to say is "Thank you Lord for (insert gift/something that makes you happy here)". Why not thank God for one of those November Ithaca sunsets, or a beautiful winter's night. Taking things like that for granted is one of the worst things a person can do. It's life, so take it in, enjoy it and be thankful for everything, instead of worrying about the next problem on the neverending list.
Another striking message from the passage is that faith will save us. The one leper who came back gained Jesus' trust because of his faith in knowing why and how he was cleansed. The others may have not even had enough faith and trust in the Lord to see the priests in the first place.
Faith is facinating to me, it is not something that people can handle on a normal basis. Faith can be shaken and stirred, it can change on a daily basis for some. The more consistent you are in your faith, the more you will trust in God's plan. That one leper's faith may have given him a one-way ticket to heaven, which isn't a bad deal. I'd say it is even better than the Polar Express, though Santa is a pretty big deal too.
And when it comes to all of the "end of the world" speak, faith becomes even more important. Considering the readings, Father Carsten talked about it in Mass, you can't always be waiting, scared to death over the world ending. What kind of life is that? Faith saves us. Who knows, our world might end tomorrow, are you ready? Fear isn't always a bad thing, but faith makes us stronger.
We need to know that whenever the world ends for us, either individually or in a catastrophic world population fashion, we have another life waiting for us with God and Mary and Jesus and the whole gang in heaven. But alas, God's work for us here is obviously not finished. So whether it is tomorrow, or next year, or 2012, or 2112, be thankful for today, and have the faith that God will be with us through everything that happens tomorrow as well.
A group of about 10 of us took about 40 minutes to look over Luke 17:11-19. I know you are looking at a computer screen, so take a look at the passage below...
Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. 12As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance 13and called out in a loud voice, "Jesus, Master, have pity on us!"14When he saw them, he said, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were cleansed.15One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16He threw himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.17Jesus asked, "Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" 19Then he said to him, "Rise and go; your faith has made you well."
Sure, this happened thousands of years ago, but as you look more closely, these words really relate to the present time.
With Thanksgiving around the corner, the idea of thankfulness is clearly evident here. Sure, we have the day of Turkey, stuffing, and mashed potatoes to make us think about what we are thankful for, but what about on a daily basis? We all have our problems, like the lepers, and when God cleanses us of those worries, are we thankful? In this passage, the nine lepers who did not come back did what many of us do after our problems are solved, move on to the next worry in their lives. It is like when you get a test back you had been worrying about: you do better than you thought, but instead of taking a step back and thanking God for that gift of knowledge, you start thinking about an argument you had with a friend or the fact you might not be happy with your girlfriend or boyfriend at the time. All Jesus wanted was for those nine lepers to take a step back and thank God for His good works. He wants us for that too.
It is not that hard or time consuming to be thankful, all you really need to say is "Thank you Lord for (insert gift/something that makes you happy here)". Why not thank God for one of those November Ithaca sunsets, or a beautiful winter's night. Taking things like that for granted is one of the worst things a person can do. It's life, so take it in, enjoy it and be thankful for everything, instead of worrying about the next problem on the neverending list.
Another striking message from the passage is that faith will save us. The one leper who came back gained Jesus' trust because of his faith in knowing why and how he was cleansed. The others may have not even had enough faith and trust in the Lord to see the priests in the first place.
Faith is facinating to me, it is not something that people can handle on a normal basis. Faith can be shaken and stirred, it can change on a daily basis for some. The more consistent you are in your faith, the more you will trust in God's plan. That one leper's faith may have given him a one-way ticket to heaven, which isn't a bad deal. I'd say it is even better than the Polar Express, though Santa is a pretty big deal too.
And when it comes to all of the "end of the world" speak, faith becomes even more important. Considering the readings, Father Carsten talked about it in Mass, you can't always be waiting, scared to death over the world ending. What kind of life is that? Faith saves us. Who knows, our world might end tomorrow, are you ready? Fear isn't always a bad thing, but faith makes us stronger.
We need to know that whenever the world ends for us, either individually or in a catastrophic world population fashion, we have another life waiting for us with God and Mary and Jesus and the whole gang in heaven. But alas, God's work for us here is obviously not finished. So whether it is tomorrow, or next year, or 2012, or 2112, be thankful for today, and have the faith that God will be with us through everything that happens tomorrow as well.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Win at everything you do
Think about your typical day from the time you wake up to the time you fall asleep. Was it good/bad/busy/relaxing? Probably the most important question is: Did you get better today? It is a saying we use all of the time on the football field.
"Every day you always get better or worse, you never stay the same."
I know every person is not an athlete, but that statement can easily be applied to anyone's life.
Dedication, work ethic, commitment are all good qualities in a person that wants to become better everyday. Yet, being a pretty competitive person, I like to take another saying along with me in the quest to be the best. "Win at everything you do." Sure, a loss is often the best way to learn, but striving to win at various aspects of your life gives you something to try and attain. You are often your best competition.
Let's look at my Monday:
Wake up on first alarm: Lose-2 hits on snooze
Brush Teeth/Wash up: Win
Eat solid breakfast: Loss-just pop tarts
Try and look presentable: Win
Get to class on time: Win-30 seconds to spare
Study during 2 hour break: Loss-played Xbox instead...and lost at that too
Lunch?: Win- Rogan's Sub plus peanut butter bread
Focused Film Session: Win
Solid Lifting Session: Win
Studying done at night: Loss-Studied while watching football/basketball
Sleep at early hour: Win
So that's my day. You may not care about any part of my life, but there is definitely room for improvement, even where I won. I could have ate healthier, or went to bed even earlier. Having high standards for yourself is important, especially something you can really gauge a win or loss on.
The poor widow in this week's Gospel had a win in her life as she gave all she had to the treasury, the scribes though, gave only a piece of their wealth. They may have given more than the widow, but for them, that is a loss. Everyone is different, so don't be afraid if a loss for you is a win for others.
So now, think about your day again. If you have to diagram it, go for it. But as you go through your day today, think about whether a decision you make, or an action you take, will result in a win or a loss. You might surprise yourself with the decisions you make. Then repeat that process. As the sign in the football locker room states, "Winning is not a some time thing, it is an all time thing."
"Every day you always get better or worse, you never stay the same."
I know every person is not an athlete, but that statement can easily be applied to anyone's life.
Dedication, work ethic, commitment are all good qualities in a person that wants to become better everyday. Yet, being a pretty competitive person, I like to take another saying along with me in the quest to be the best. "Win at everything you do." Sure, a loss is often the best way to learn, but striving to win at various aspects of your life gives you something to try and attain. You are often your best competition.
Let's look at my Monday:
Wake up on first alarm: Lose-2 hits on snooze
Brush Teeth/Wash up: Win
Eat solid breakfast: Loss-just pop tarts
Try and look presentable: Win
Get to class on time: Win-30 seconds to spare
Study during 2 hour break: Loss-played Xbox instead...and lost at that too
Lunch?: Win- Rogan's Sub plus peanut butter bread
Focused Film Session: Win
Solid Lifting Session: Win
Studying done at night: Loss-Studied while watching football/basketball
Sleep at early hour: Win
So that's my day. You may not care about any part of my life, but there is definitely room for improvement, even where I won. I could have ate healthier, or went to bed even earlier. Having high standards for yourself is important, especially something you can really gauge a win or loss on.
The poor widow in this week's Gospel had a win in her life as she gave all she had to the treasury, the scribes though, gave only a piece of their wealth. They may have given more than the widow, but for them, that is a loss. Everyone is different, so don't be afraid if a loss for you is a win for others.
So now, think about your day again. If you have to diagram it, go for it. But as you go through your day today, think about whether a decision you make, or an action you take, will result in a win or a loss. You might surprise yourself with the decisions you make. Then repeat that process. As the sign in the football locker room states, "Winning is not a some time thing, it is an all time thing."
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Saint Thomas of Cazenovia
Sounds good, doesn't it? Like Father said in Church on Sunday, we are all members of the Communion of Saints. Yet, no one can hold a title like that one, even myself. Until we leave this earth, our names stay the same, and for a very good reason. Throughout our lives, we are taught to strive towards being like Jesus and the Saints, which should be the driving force behind all of our daily decisions and actions. As sinners, we forget this at times, bringing us away from that healthy lifestyle.
The Church realizes that we may stray at times, so planned Holy Days and appropriate Gospel readings throughout the year hit us where it may hurt sometimes. The truth can be painful, but as Lee Imbriano quoted in his homily from the latest Rocky Balboa movie, "It ain't about how hard you hit, it's about how hard you can get hit, and keep moving forward."
Quite a statement from Sylvester Stallone. But by going to Mass every week, there is always that ability to punched right in the gut by a reading or by anything someone says over the course of the Mass. But, much like Rocky, your life does not end right there. Another week comes, and hopefully another one after that. There is no choice but to keep moving forward with your life. After God shows you the error of your ways, you have to react by getting better in the next week. Think about it, if you improve some aspect of your life every week, how good of a person can you be?
That brings us to All Saints Day and All Souls Day. Sandwiched together in the time of year for Halloween, Thanksgiving, and even Christmas, these two days are widely underrated. November 1 was All Saints Day, a time where we sit back to think about and praise those who lived their lives completely for others. It is a humbling thought to realize their devotion to God's way. If we can do one tenth of what they did in their lives, we are better for it. As a part of the Communion of Saints, we should be striving to do that.
All Souls Day, on November 2, is not so much a celebration, but a remembrance of those who went before us. Every person has been touched by death in one way or another, and as we all know, it stinks. All Souls Day is an opportunity though, as cliche as it sounds, to remember the good and bad times with those who have left us. It is tough, but there is nothing wrong with a smile amidst a few tears on your face. It makes you evaluate your life as well, and maybe live it just a little better knowing that life is a bit shorter than we realize.
My thought is that many people forget these two days in their year, and they are always a guaranteed punch in the stomach. So, don't do me a favor, do yourself a favor and go back to the ithaca.edu/catholic website and reread the readings on page 2 of this week's Bulletin. Take a few minutes and think about the Saints' lives and the people who have left your life. It is both a humbling and enriching experience. After thinking about that, you might be knocked down to the mat, you might lose this round of your life, but surely you won't be knocked out or down for the count. What would Rocky do?
The Church realizes that we may stray at times, so planned Holy Days and appropriate Gospel readings throughout the year hit us where it may hurt sometimes. The truth can be painful, but as Lee Imbriano quoted in his homily from the latest Rocky Balboa movie, "It ain't about how hard you hit, it's about how hard you can get hit, and keep moving forward."
Quite a statement from Sylvester Stallone. But by going to Mass every week, there is always that ability to punched right in the gut by a reading or by anything someone says over the course of the Mass. But, much like Rocky, your life does not end right there. Another week comes, and hopefully another one after that. There is no choice but to keep moving forward with your life. After God shows you the error of your ways, you have to react by getting better in the next week. Think about it, if you improve some aspect of your life every week, how good of a person can you be?
That brings us to All Saints Day and All Souls Day. Sandwiched together in the time of year for Halloween, Thanksgiving, and even Christmas, these two days are widely underrated. November 1 was All Saints Day, a time where we sit back to think about and praise those who lived their lives completely for others. It is a humbling thought to realize their devotion to God's way. If we can do one tenth of what they did in their lives, we are better for it. As a part of the Communion of Saints, we should be striving to do that.
All Souls Day, on November 2, is not so much a celebration, but a remembrance of those who went before us. Every person has been touched by death in one way or another, and as we all know, it stinks. All Souls Day is an opportunity though, as cliche as it sounds, to remember the good and bad times with those who have left us. It is tough, but there is nothing wrong with a smile amidst a few tears on your face. It makes you evaluate your life as well, and maybe live it just a little better knowing that life is a bit shorter than we realize.
My thought is that many people forget these two days in their year, and they are always a guaranteed punch in the stomach. So, don't do me a favor, do yourself a favor and go back to the ithaca.edu/catholic website and reread the readings on page 2 of this week's Bulletin. Take a few minutes and think about the Saints' lives and the people who have left your life. It is both a humbling and enriching experience. After thinking about that, you might be knocked down to the mat, you might lose this round of your life, but surely you won't be knocked out or down for the count. What would Rocky do?
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Some more research...
I'm looking up some information for my next post...check back tomorrow for a new one.......
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
What do you want me to do for you?
Two weeks in a row, Jesus asks the question above. Sure, He died on the cross, rose from the dead, and saved us from our sins, and yet, he still asks that question. This week, Bartimaeus, the blind man, answers by saying that he just wants to see.
What would your answer be? I'm thinking, well...I'd love a new computer, maybe a new cell phone, a new video game system, and how about a Porche? Over the course of my life I might get those things, but thinking about the question again, and what Jesus is asking, I slowly reform those answers. How about some happiness in everyday interchanges and conversations, or more people doing good than bad, not to mention world peace etc. I'm not trying to be Miss America, but those things don't seem too bad. I don't know that they will happen in five minutes or five decades, so the only thing I can do is wait with my faith. God will get it done when he sees fit. Who am I to decide if people are happy or not? Faith is a great thing. I have confidence that God is indeed there for me, no matter what is happening both close to me and far away in the world around me.
Finding God in the most trivial of things in your life helps to strengthen that faith. Nature, relationships, and even discovering a new piece of mind can all contain God. I like though, finding God in people. He might be in a homeless man rummaging around the Commons, would you walk by him if it was indeed God? Sometimes giving money isn't necessary. Jesus teaches us to give up everything to the poor, but at times it is just as good to utter a simple, "Hello, how are you?" Scared as you may be to start this random conversation, it won't kill. In times like those, the idea that we as humans are made in God's own image and likeness rings true. We are asking Jesus' question, "What do you want me to do for you?" At that point, you can not only see God in the homeless man, but in yourself too.
As strange as it may seem, sometimes I see God on the football field too. This weekend was a bye week for the Ithaca Bombers, so I finally was able to watch some Division I college football. I fell upon a game where the Florida Gators were playing, and as always were Quarterbacked by star Tim Tebow. His background is impeccable, with mission trips, great grades, friends, not to mention he is pretty good at football. That is not where I saw God in him though. Right below his eyes, written on his eye black, were the words "Phil 4:13". I had heard how how he wore John 3:16 during the National Championship, and here is the link to how it affected America...
http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=85729
That kind of faith is rare, especially in the sports world. He knows he is a public figure, and uses that to spread the Word of God. He is not doing it for his own recognition, but for others so that they may have the chance at discovering the grace of God. So yes, on a late October night, in the South, on a football field, amidst thousands of screaming fans, God was present.
You may want anything from a Mustang to an end to War, but the real peace and happiness comes not from asking, "What can you do for me", but rather, like Jesus said, "What do you want me to do for you?" Then, God is present in you.
What would your answer be? I'm thinking, well...I'd love a new computer, maybe a new cell phone, a new video game system, and how about a Porche? Over the course of my life I might get those things, but thinking about the question again, and what Jesus is asking, I slowly reform those answers. How about some happiness in everyday interchanges and conversations, or more people doing good than bad, not to mention world peace etc. I'm not trying to be Miss America, but those things don't seem too bad. I don't know that they will happen in five minutes or five decades, so the only thing I can do is wait with my faith. God will get it done when he sees fit. Who am I to decide if people are happy or not? Faith is a great thing. I have confidence that God is indeed there for me, no matter what is happening both close to me and far away in the world around me.
Finding God in the most trivial of things in your life helps to strengthen that faith. Nature, relationships, and even discovering a new piece of mind can all contain God. I like though, finding God in people. He might be in a homeless man rummaging around the Commons, would you walk by him if it was indeed God? Sometimes giving money isn't necessary. Jesus teaches us to give up everything to the poor, but at times it is just as good to utter a simple, "Hello, how are you?" Scared as you may be to start this random conversation, it won't kill. In times like those, the idea that we as humans are made in God's own image and likeness rings true. We are asking Jesus' question, "What do you want me to do for you?" At that point, you can not only see God in the homeless man, but in yourself too.
As strange as it may seem, sometimes I see God on the football field too. This weekend was a bye week for the Ithaca Bombers, so I finally was able to watch some Division I college football. I fell upon a game where the Florida Gators were playing, and as always were Quarterbacked by star Tim Tebow. His background is impeccable, with mission trips, great grades, friends, not to mention he is pretty good at football. That is not where I saw God in him though. Right below his eyes, written on his eye black, were the words "Phil 4:13". I had heard how how he wore John 3:16 during the National Championship, and here is the link to how it affected America...
http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=85729
That kind of faith is rare, especially in the sports world. He knows he is a public figure, and uses that to spread the Word of God. He is not doing it for his own recognition, but for others so that they may have the chance at discovering the grace of God. So yes, on a late October night, in the South, on a football field, amidst thousands of screaming fans, God was present.
You may want anything from a Mustang to an end to War, but the real peace and happiness comes not from asking, "What can you do for me", but rather, like Jesus said, "What do you want me to do for you?" Then, God is present in you.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
If you ain't first, you're last
Pop culture tells us that to be successful and happy, we need money, fame, big cars, big houses, and beautiful spouses. A popular 2006 movie, Talladaga Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, sums this up in one sentence, "If you ain't first, you're last." Yet, there are plenty of other places to finish, second, third, maybe even fourth. A person's best effort in competition may only put them in third place. But, people get so consumed in getting more and more of the above that they are never satisfied. Their life becomes a selfish quest to be first.
This is a problem of pride. In his homily Sunday night, Father Carsten spoke about the art of dialogue and conversation. Conversation is defined as the informal interchange of thoughts or information. As Father pointed out though, most conversations go something like this.
Person 1: I went to this great restaurant the other night, they had this seafood platter that was unreal.
Person 2: Yeah...my biology homework is really difficult tonight, do you know what mitochondria does?
Person 1: No clue. But yeah, I loved the shrimp. The cocktail dipping sauce made the meal.
Person 2: Shrimp is gross. I can't wait to get this overwith, my favorite show is on in 15 minutes.
Person 1: Okay, I'll talk to you later.
Person 2: Yeah good call, let's do this again soon!
Seems unrealistic, but tell me you have not had an exchange like that before. I can't even call it a conversation. Each person is so wrapped up in their own little world that they can't appreciate or share anything with anyone else. They are robbing themselves of a valuable exchange of information where they can learn about another person.
Many believe that Jesus' presence is felt the most when people are getting together and sharing views and ideas. What happens then, when both sides are so one-sided that nothing is shared? He is still there, but what would he think? We are supposed to care for others more than ourselves. Conversation and dialogue is one of the only ways to learn about that other person. Selfishness and pride leads to the failure of any exchange of thoughts.
Mark's Gospel says,
"...whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all."
You can't make yourself better than your peers. We are all equal in God's eyes. If everyone can just have an actual conversation, pride will be washed away, and instead of serving all, we can serve each other by sharing thoughts and information on the road to true happiness.
"...whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all"
That's Talledaga Nights...Bible style...
This is a problem of pride. In his homily Sunday night, Father Carsten spoke about the art of dialogue and conversation. Conversation is defined as the informal interchange of thoughts or information. As Father pointed out though, most conversations go something like this.
Person 1: I went to this great restaurant the other night, they had this seafood platter that was unreal.
Person 2: Yeah...my biology homework is really difficult tonight, do you know what mitochondria does?
Person 1: No clue. But yeah, I loved the shrimp. The cocktail dipping sauce made the meal.
Person 2: Shrimp is gross. I can't wait to get this overwith, my favorite show is on in 15 minutes.
Person 1: Okay, I'll talk to you later.
Person 2: Yeah good call, let's do this again soon!
Seems unrealistic, but tell me you have not had an exchange like that before. I can't even call it a conversation. Each person is so wrapped up in their own little world that they can't appreciate or share anything with anyone else. They are robbing themselves of a valuable exchange of information where they can learn about another person.
Many believe that Jesus' presence is felt the most when people are getting together and sharing views and ideas. What happens then, when both sides are so one-sided that nothing is shared? He is still there, but what would he think? We are supposed to care for others more than ourselves. Conversation and dialogue is one of the only ways to learn about that other person. Selfishness and pride leads to the failure of any exchange of thoughts.
Mark's Gospel says,
"...whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all."
You can't make yourself better than your peers. We are all equal in God's eyes. If everyone can just have an actual conversation, pride will be washed away, and instead of serving all, we can serve each other by sharing thoughts and information on the road to true happiness.
"...whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all"
That's Talledaga Nights...Bible style...
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Having a Day
"How good it is, that we are here today." Going to mass at Muller Chapel for three years now, that statement seems commonplace at the 1 or 9 o clock mass. Father Carsten is constantly repeating it, elaborating on it, using it as much as he possibly can. The statement is simple, yet when you think about it...............wow, it's a heavy subject...let's break it down.
First: "How good it is..."
When you think about it, good cannot get much better than this. It is a rhetorical question, one that cannot be answered easily at all. If everyone really thinks about it, they can evaluate their own life at that moment, and decide how good it really is. Goodness is something undervalued in our society today, as life is often too fast paced to appreciate any of the goodness in their lives. That might be anything from a promotion at a job to a simple hello from a friend.
Second: "...that we are here today."
Are you happy to be alive? What does that entail? Just being in the world another day should be considered a blessing. Often, waking up in the morning is taken for granted. At the sound of an alarm clock, people start their day with a groan, a brief swear word, shouts about the lack of light outdoors, or just constant complaints about how early it is. We have all done it. If you knew it was your last day, would you react the same way?
Another aspect of Father using the word "here" is the reference to being in the building, at Muller Chapel, attending church. It is just an hour, but everyone hearing the statement took time out of their Sunday to listen to God's word. No one told us to go. It was our decision. How good is that? As college kids, that display of faith is impressive.
"How good it is, that we are here today."
This brings me to the football field. One might be surprised to hear me talking about a recent blowout loss St. John Fisher on here, but it makes sense, trust me. Much like Father Carsten's teachings, Head Coach Mike Welch hammers home the idea of staying in the moment. There is no reason to dwell on the past, or worry about the future, the only thing you can control is right now.
With that said, we lost, yet we stayed in the moment. Sometimes things don't work out. But, everyone on that team woke up the next day. Tough as it was, it was still good to wake up. This is a week of midterms, papers, and stress. Life is honestly too short to stress over a 5-pager, thats why your here isn't it? Like we say on the football field, everyone is here because they are supposed to be. Whether it is in the classroom, on the field, or in the social scene, as students we have the talent to do well. You are in the place you are in for a reason. Tests might come back with a seriously scary score, papers might be so marked up you can't even see the words, or you might be having problems getting along with a friend. Most likely though, you will get up tomorrow morning. Whether you like it or not, life goes on.
So, there is no other choice but to accept that and enjoy it. Some things have to be hard, but the challenge is half the fun. Your alarm might be ear piercing, annoying and ringing a bit too early, but hey you heard it go off didn't you. Maybe next time, instead of cussing out the time on the clock, sit up, and just think, "How good it is, that I am here today." What a way to start a day.
First: "How good it is..."
When you think about it, good cannot get much better than this. It is a rhetorical question, one that cannot be answered easily at all. If everyone really thinks about it, they can evaluate their own life at that moment, and decide how good it really is. Goodness is something undervalued in our society today, as life is often too fast paced to appreciate any of the goodness in their lives. That might be anything from a promotion at a job to a simple hello from a friend.
Second: "...that we are here today."
Are you happy to be alive? What does that entail? Just being in the world another day should be considered a blessing. Often, waking up in the morning is taken for granted. At the sound of an alarm clock, people start their day with a groan, a brief swear word, shouts about the lack of light outdoors, or just constant complaints about how early it is. We have all done it. If you knew it was your last day, would you react the same way?
Another aspect of Father using the word "here" is the reference to being in the building, at Muller Chapel, attending church. It is just an hour, but everyone hearing the statement took time out of their Sunday to listen to God's word. No one told us to go. It was our decision. How good is that? As college kids, that display of faith is impressive.
"How good it is, that we are here today."
This brings me to the football field. One might be surprised to hear me talking about a recent blowout loss St. John Fisher on here, but it makes sense, trust me. Much like Father Carsten's teachings, Head Coach Mike Welch hammers home the idea of staying in the moment. There is no reason to dwell on the past, or worry about the future, the only thing you can control is right now.
With that said, we lost, yet we stayed in the moment. Sometimes things don't work out. But, everyone on that team woke up the next day. Tough as it was, it was still good to wake up. This is a week of midterms, papers, and stress. Life is honestly too short to stress over a 5-pager, thats why your here isn't it? Like we say on the football field, everyone is here because they are supposed to be. Whether it is in the classroom, on the field, or in the social scene, as students we have the talent to do well. You are in the place you are in for a reason. Tests might come back with a seriously scary score, papers might be so marked up you can't even see the words, or you might be having problems getting along with a friend. Most likely though, you will get up tomorrow morning. Whether you like it or not, life goes on.
So, there is no other choice but to accept that and enjoy it. Some things have to be hard, but the challenge is half the fun. Your alarm might be ear piercing, annoying and ringing a bit too early, but hey you heard it go off didn't you. Maybe next time, instead of cussing out the time on the clock, sit up, and just think, "How good it is, that I am here today." What a way to start a day.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
This isn't Taylor Swift, but it is a love story
As a 21-year-old college junior who is still single, I am probably the last person who would be able to know what they are talking about when it comes to love. I'm not one for the mushy stuff, so normally I would not bring this type of stuff up in normal conversation. Sunday night was different for me though, as future husband and wife Lee Imbriano and Katie Rose Hoover gave the homily in front of the Catholic Community at Muller Chapel. Today, it is time to go deep.
Beforehand, I honestly thought I would just hear how much they loved each other and that everything was happily ever after. What struck me at first though, is that they took turns speaking, saying their peace one at a time. Being the gentleman that he is, Lee let his fiancee Katie Rose speak first. Each gave their own story of searching for love, which didn't seem so different from many other college type individuals I know.
Katie Rose had searched for the right man all throughout her undergraduate years, pointing out that she had some good and bad relationships. Yet, she found Lee while applying for a job at Nazareth Farm in West Virginia. Who knew that would happen? Lee was in grad school at Notre Dame while Katie Rose was there as an undergrad. For all they knew, they might have passed each other on a sidewalk, possibly muttering a simple friendly hello. Lee may have held a door open for Katie Rose, or vice versa. They would go on their way, as it was not yet God's plan to bring them together.
By working together at Nazareth Farm, they formed a relationship that wasn't forced, but natural. Often, people feel like they have to find their soul mate before they graduate, so they convince themselves that they are in love with some guy or girl they saw at midnight on a random Friday night. But it takes the time and work that Katie Rose and Lee put in beforehand to really know.
Like Lee said on Sunday, half of our parents our divorced. Half. That fifty percent may have rushed into it, they may think there are better things out there, or they may cite irreconciable differences. Lee and Katie Rose said there would be hard times, but being friends first, they didn't care about those times. They knew they could get through problems because of the bond they built at the very beginning. Some relationships may not turn into love like theirs, but that doesn't mean a person can't have friends.
They did not try to understand or figure out love, because it is pretty much impossible. They did not try to pinpoint what they were looking for in a person, only God knew who that person would be. It is an awesome story, and it is repeated every time they tell each other "I love you."
So maybe you will find someone today or tomorrow. Maybe you will find someone in 3 months, 6 months, five years, 10 years... No need to panic, the key to true happiness lies in what Lee and Katie Rose found. A best friend that they wanted to share the rough and happy times with. That is love...not something you normally find at Wegmans.
Beforehand, I honestly thought I would just hear how much they loved each other and that everything was happily ever after. What struck me at first though, is that they took turns speaking, saying their peace one at a time. Being the gentleman that he is, Lee let his fiancee Katie Rose speak first. Each gave their own story of searching for love, which didn't seem so different from many other college type individuals I know.
Katie Rose had searched for the right man all throughout her undergraduate years, pointing out that she had some good and bad relationships. Yet, she found Lee while applying for a job at Nazareth Farm in West Virginia. Who knew that would happen? Lee was in grad school at Notre Dame while Katie Rose was there as an undergrad. For all they knew, they might have passed each other on a sidewalk, possibly muttering a simple friendly hello. Lee may have held a door open for Katie Rose, or vice versa. They would go on their way, as it was not yet God's plan to bring them together.
By working together at Nazareth Farm, they formed a relationship that wasn't forced, but natural. Often, people feel like they have to find their soul mate before they graduate, so they convince themselves that they are in love with some guy or girl they saw at midnight on a random Friday night. But it takes the time and work that Katie Rose and Lee put in beforehand to really know.
Like Lee said on Sunday, half of our parents our divorced. Half. That fifty percent may have rushed into it, they may think there are better things out there, or they may cite irreconciable differences. Lee and Katie Rose said there would be hard times, but being friends first, they didn't care about those times. They knew they could get through problems because of the bond they built at the very beginning. Some relationships may not turn into love like theirs, but that doesn't mean a person can't have friends.
They did not try to understand or figure out love, because it is pretty much impossible. They did not try to pinpoint what they were looking for in a person, only God knew who that person would be. It is an awesome story, and it is repeated every time they tell each other "I love you."
So maybe you will find someone today or tomorrow. Maybe you will find someone in 3 months, 6 months, five years, 10 years... No need to panic, the key to true happiness lies in what Lee and Katie Rose found. A best friend that they wanted to share the rough and happy times with. That is love...not something you normally find at Wegmans.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Opening Kickoff
As advertised, I, Tom Eschen Jr, will be updating the world of blogs and twitters on anything happening from Muller Chapel and Ithaca College.
Whether it is dissecting a homily from Sunday Mass, speaking about news from the IC Campus, or just relating anything to the sports world, I'll do my best to bring some perspective on God's influence in our everyday lives.
With that said...I am definitely looking forward to hearing Campus Minister Lee Imbriano and his fiancee of three months Katie Rose speak about Marriage this coming Sunday at 1 and 9 at the Chapel. Be sure to check here for my thoughts.
Your feedback is always welcome...
Whether it is dissecting a homily from Sunday Mass, speaking about news from the IC Campus, or just relating anything to the sports world, I'll do my best to bring some perspective on God's influence in our everyday lives.
With that said...I am definitely looking forward to hearing Campus Minister Lee Imbriano and his fiancee of three months Katie Rose speak about Marriage this coming Sunday at 1 and 9 at the Chapel. Be sure to check here for my thoughts.
Your feedback is always welcome...
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Guatemala Trip!
At the end of the Spring 2009 semester a group of nine Catholic Community members took a trip to Guatemala. If you'd like to take a look at some of their pictures, feel free to browse:
Kristyne's Pics:
Student Reflections:
I wanted to share with you a little bit about what I did while staying in San Lucas Tolimàn, Guatemala. The Mission at San Lucas was started over forty years ago by and is still run by Fr. Greg Shaffer. It works to uphold the Christian Teachings of Social Justice. Fr. Greg explained this philosophy to my group with a story from early in his time in Guatemala. In his attempts to minister to the people of San Lucas, he considered bringing in huge bags of corn from his home in Minnesota for the people so they could make themselves tortillas. But instead of taking that route to provide food for the people in the form of handouts, he thought that he could do for them one better. He decided that in his ministry he could work to pave the roads for the Guatemalan people so they could hold their heads high with the dignity of providing for themselves. With his philosophy in mind, eight others and I went to work each day in San Lucas in the hopes of continuing Fr. Greg's mission.
One day we went swimming because there was no work for us. We went to the market on the lake and walked around Guatemala for a last time. We left on Wednesday. One of the girls on my trip, Kristyne, did not want to leave. I can't say honestly that I wanted to stay as I was ready to go home after a semester away from home, but I did want the feeling of service to remain. I wanted to do more work and spend more time with the Guatemalan people because it was the people over that helped me to realize the most about life and what I need to do to serve others. Even though I am not in Guatemala right now, I do feel that the impact that the Mayan people and the Fr. Greg's mission (more than the actual work that I did to help the people) had on me will always be with me. In the two weeks that I have been home, I've been trying to live a better life, more active than passive. Why let my life pass me, or be bogged down with things that do not make me happy? I really think that God gives us the gift of life and we just need to make sure we treasure it for everything that it's worth and use it for the benefit of others. That is why I wanted to go to Guatemala. I wanted to start living my life for others. I really think that the trip helped me to jumpstart this passion in me. Even though this trip pushed me outside of my comfort zone, like getting my clothes covered in dirt, I found comfort in the fact that I put my life in God's hands knowing that He would be with me through my journey.
I am so grateful for the opportunity to participate in this mission trip to Guatemala to be among the indigenous Mayan people (who at the tallest came up to my shoulders). It was a very powerful trip and I hope others take the opportunity to take up missions like this one.
I am so grateful for the opportunity to participate in this mission trip to Guatemala to be among the indigenous Mayan people (who at the tallest came up to my shoulders). It was a very powerful trip and I hope others take the opportunity to take up missions like this one.
-Lizzy Honas is a rising junior English Education Major at Ithaca College. To read Lizzy's entire reflection, click here.
It was a great trip, one I'll always remember. It was my first time out of the country, my first time seeing palm trees (not on TV), and my first time in a primarily Spanish-speaking environment. I kept working on some things I had become aware of during my time at Nazareth Farm, namely that there are many invisible people whom I affect with my way of life without even knowing it. So, for those ten days, my goal was to see and listen and make those people visible so that I would know how I affect their lives, and so that I can live in a way that enables them to live with dignity. (An example would be making sure to buy fair trade coffee instead of just going to the Caribou or Starbucks and not checking whether the producers of the coffee paid the farmers and workers fair wages.) I also wanted to connect with the Guatemalan people, and I found this difficult to do because of the language barrier. I don't speak much Spanish. I knew enough to ask where the dirt we were shoveling should go, and how to barter. My most extensive conversations in Spanish consisted of asking and answering questions of age, hometown, and favorite sports. So, while I was not able to discuss heavy issues with the locals, I did come to a valuable understanding of what it must be like to come to America and not know much English. And, I was lucky, because at mealtimes I came back to the mission where English speakers were in the majority again - not all English Language Learners have that opportunity in the U.S.
I really enjoyed the couple of talks we heard from workers at the mission. Fr. Greg's told us about the encomienda system and how the finkas (plantations) in place did not provide for their workers. The mission at San Lucas Toliman has done so much in the last four decades to improve the living conditions in the town! Fr. Greg also told us that our presence on the work sites, which were led by locals, helped the self-image of the people. "They come to the conclusion that, since you come to help, they must be worth helping," he said. I think that means a lot in a place where about 90% of the advertisements feature happy Caucasian people with all kinds of possessions and access to medical care: the fact that we come to work for them makes us all equals, in a way. I also loved hearing from Choana (sp?), one of the kitchen ladies at the mission. She told us about the civil war years in the '80s, when her husband was abducted and never heard from again. She helped Fr. Greg rescue 11 children from a neighboring town, after the government had killed their parents and was looking to silence them before they could testify against the army in court. I kept thinking, "I couldn't have been so brave." They are such a strong people.
Of course, I also had lots of fun being a tourist, swimming in Lake Atitlan, riding the boat across the lake, shopping in many colorful markets, following an 8-year-old to see the sights around town, and hiking up a mountain. There were so many pieces of the experience that I couldn't sum all of them up in a brief reflection.
-Molly Mattingly is a 2009 graduate of Ithaca College. In the fall, Molly will be enrolled in the Master of Sacred Music program at Notre Dame, and she will also be an Assistant Rector in a girls' dorm.
Monday, May 4, 2009
End-of-the-Year Picnic
This past Saturday, May 2nd, was our annual End-of-the-Year picnic at Buttermilk Falls. It was a lovely day, and we enjoyed food thanks to our awesome grill-master, Lee. How can you go wrong with good food, great company, a frisbee, a swingset and gorges?
Wanna see pictures???
Fred's pics
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Nazareth Farm Trip
At the end of winter break, a group of seven Ithaca College students went to Nazareth Farm in West Virginia for a service project. Feel free to browse through their pictures below! Hopefully we'll be able to add some anecdotes from the trip!
The whole group!
Top row: Sarah, Molly, Father Carsten, Kelly, Shannon & Billy
Bottom row: Stephanie, Lee & Rory
Check out some of our student reflections:
Over winter break I had the opportunity to take a trip toWest Virginia Doddridge County Doddridge County , a region in Appalachia that unfortunately suffers from some economic hardships.
There are a ton of photos from this awesome trip!
Lee's pics
Stef's pics
Billy's pics
The whole group!Top row: Sarah, Molly, Father Carsten, Kelly, Shannon & Billy
Bottom row: Stephanie, Lee & Rory
Check out some of our student reflections:
Over winter break I had the opportunity to take a trip to
To be completely honest, I wasn’t too excited about the trip in the weeks leading up to the actual week we were to go to the Farm… and that’s probably even an understatement. I’ve always taken part in a lot of community service and volunteer work since I was young, but for the most part I did so in my own community or right here on campus. Also, I won’t deny that I am the definition of a homebody, so the idea of leaving home a week before break was over was a little nerve wracking for me. I like to be in my comfort zone and going to a place eight hours away, a place where there is no internet or cell phone service, a place where you take bucket showers outside and sleep in bunks was pretty far outside my comfort zone.
But I went anyways. For some reason I can’t explain, I got in the van that morning and went to
Well, it turned out to not just be a good experience… but a great one. If I were to tell you that it was anything less than life changing, I wouldn’t be doing it justice.
When I was told about Naz Farm prior to going, and even for the first day or two I was actually at the farm, I thought it was simple: I thought we were their to fix houses and help some neighbors of Nazareth Farm. I thought that was it. I thought I was there to help these people. And yes, I’m sure that the insulation we installed under houses and the porches we built or repaired were very much appreciated by the home owners we met. But in the end, I think that my overall experience at the farm helped me so much more. I went to
I think that sometimes, life can be difficult. Things can happen that we can’t quite understand. It’s hard to remain optimistic in a world where violence seems prevalent and peace seems absent. It’s easy to get overwhelmed with the bad and forget to recognize the good that is still all around.
For me it was my uncle. My Uncle Mike passed away from cancer and a lot of the time it feels like it happened just yesterday but it’s really been six years. Why anyone would have to suffer or have to leave his family and kids… I just didn’t understand it. And that inability to accept what had happened changed me. Things like that just stick with you.
I really think that’s a lot of the reason God brought me to Nazareth Farm. I thought I was going to help others, I’m convinced God put me there because he knew I needed it. I have never felt so strongly that I was in the right place at the exact right time as I did when I was at the Farm.
The week we were at the Farm, we were there with 3 other groups of college students… kids from Iona, Colgate and the University of Illinois were there also. One night during the week we were having a discussion about where we had witnessed or experienced God in our week. It didn’t take me long to know where I had seen God, I had seen him in every person I had had the opportunity to meet during my time in West Virginia, mostly through the community members I had met and the fellow volunteers I was blessed to work with.
Nazareth Farm has this awesome atmosphere about the place that allows individuals to open up and to share. Some of the volunteers, who I had just met, told me about things they had gone through in their own lives; people they had lost, things they had struggled with. And even through the difficult times, these young adults were able to take their experiences, as difficult as they had been, but still turn around and have the courage and the faith to go out into the world, remain positive, and help others in the name of God.
Then there were the community members I met. After work on Tuesday we went around and picked up some of Naz Farm’s neighbors and brought them back to the Farm for this big community dinner. It gave us a chance to really meet the people we were helping. This one elderly man who had come to the dinner spent the whole night having pretty much the same conversation with every one of us: he was telling us about how blessed he was and how grateful he was to God for his life and for everything he has.
Here was a man, Grover, who probably by many people’s standards has nothing: he lives in a small home, by himself, without many possessions, and yet he praises God every day for everything that he does have. He possessed this deep and undying faith in God, even in the face of difficulty.
And it wasn’t just Grover, it was every community member I met. I was struck by them… to me they had very little and were faced with economic struggles but they still had such a strong faith in God and relied on that faith to continue on. I learned something from that. To me, I really feel that God brought me to that Farm that week so that I could meet every single one of those community members and every single one of the other college students who were volunteering there because He was in each and every one of them.
All theses people showed me that even after hardships and difficulties… life can go on. But the key to continuing on is a belief in God and dedication to faith. Everyone I met taught me that things happen, things you might not be able to accept for some time or ever completely understand but we need to recognize the good in the bad: be thankful for the things we did have or do have like the time we were able to have with a loved one who might now be gone or our good health or the great family and friends we have that see us through every day.
I learned all this at the farm, which is why I am so grateful that I went. It took me 20 years to really “get it” but I guess better late than never.
I think that in a lot of ways, what I experienced at the Farm was similar to what Paul experienced in our first reading. Paul was struck down by God and God showed himself to Paul, forcing him to question his life and his actions. God allowed Paul to regain his sight when he saw God and God encouraged him to then go forth as his witness spreading news of what he had seen and heard.
Like Paul, I also experienced God. I experienced Him through all the people I met at Nazareth Farm. He allowed me to regain my sight in that he blessed me with a new outlook on life. After my trip to the farm, I feel enlightened. I was shown by God that he has filled my life with blessings and that I need to take the time to appreciate every one of them. Because of the people I met, and because I know I was brought to Nazareth Farm for a specific reason, I have come back ready to share my experiences with you and others; sharing, like Paul, what I have seen and heard in an attempt to change someone else’s outlook as the people in West Virginia have changed mine.
Like I said, I was one of seven students from our community that took the trip to Nazareth Farm and I’m sure we all had different experiences so the best I could do is share with you my story. But even though we all may have experienced God in different ways at the Farm, I know that we were all changed by it for the better. So I encourage all of you to ask any of us about our time at the Farm, because we’d love to share, but also to consider spending a week at the Farm next time we organize a trip down because I can promise it would be worth it.
-Shannon Archer is a Junior Integrated Marketing Communications Major at Ithaca College
There are a ton of photos from this awesome trip!
Lee's pics
Stef's pics
Billy's pics
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