Who's on First?

With school back in session after a much needed week off, it's time to hit the last stretch of blogs for this spring semester. For anyone with kids, who is currently in school, or teaches in any capacity, these next couple months are often the hardest. Summer vacation is in sight, but you know what, there is work still to be done. It's easy to worry about all that is on the schedule, trust me, my April might be one of my toughest. Football practice at sunrise, documentary filming, paper writing, and even some volunteering fill up those 30 days for me. It's difficult to avoid those thoughts of doubt and exhaustion as I approach those days. I'm sure your schedule is as packed if not worse than my own.

But life is too short to think about doing all of that now. It's impossible, there's no time machine that can get me through it either. So I just have to deal with it, and even try to make something positive out of each activity I do.

Sunrise Football: I love my sleep just as much as you do, so I am not a morning person. Running around at 6 am though, illuminated by a rising ball of fire, will be good for me. It's seizing the day, literally not wasting a moment of sunlight. I'm also making my body better physically in the process. And that feel-good emotion that you get after a solid workout won't hurt either.

Documentary Filming: My topic is up in Syracuse, so time and travel will be involved. But I will be trying to capture the emotions of people and the controversial visuals of the polluted Onondaga Lake. That's good for society as a whole, and will improve my journalistic sense as well.

Paper Writing: Pretty self-explanitory, we probably all know the feeling of sitting down to a 20 or 10 page paper. It's impossible not to learn something in the process though. Whether it is in the research or the actual writing, some nugget of knowledge will be implanted in my head in that process.

Volunteering: I'm working up at the Cayuga Nature Center with people and animals, which is quite the task. I committed to it for a class, but the experience has grown on me, and I think it might even be in my plans for next semester as well. Sure, it takes up a considerable amount of my weekend relax time. But instead of watching a cheetah take down an ostrich on the Discovery Channel, I'll be cleaning the cage of boa constrictor. Kind of puts High Definition to shame doesn't it?

When budgeted correctly, those short 24 hours can be made much longer, and can fit all of those activities in without stress or worry. Looking at their positive side makes it much more attainable.

But wait...




Don't make the mistake I did. Writing this, I didn't know where to put God. Sure, that stuff I talked about is important, but God should always be the priority. In 50 years I might not have to know how to make a documentary or write a paper on the difference of mainstream and alternative media, but I will need to know God. As busy as I'm going to be, regardless of what I have to do, attending church on Sunday in some form, somewhere, at some time, must be a priority.

If I don't make it the top part of my list, and miss a week or two, it will be like that snowball I'm always talking about, and I might lose that cornerstone of my life. Even if I'm in the middle of a paper that is due at midnight on a Sunday, I must go to Mass at Muller at 9, it's that important. That foundation of Sunday mass helps me through the busy times, because I know I can still pray to God at any time, which is where the idea of being positive about those busy days comes in. It's easy to dread a tough day, but by letting God shape those activities, and realize that it's part of his plan, you might get something out of it. Dare I say, it will be refreshing to know that you got so much done in just 24 hours...


Twenty minutes of looking at a reading or glancing at a prayer book in between all that stuff during the week won't hurt either...I'm sure it is more worthwhile than checking Facebook and your email and your Twitter and your cell phone 20 different times in that same time span.

Keep in mind that what you'll need tomorrow is important, but what you'll really need in the long run is a close relationship with God. Everything has its own place, but your faith should always be in first. That will take you down the path of an enriched life.