Catholic Community's Session With Eschen

It's Now or Never

2011-04-21T09:52:00.000-07:00

Here we are. The Holy Triduum of Holy Week. Today is Holy Thursday, representing the night where Jesus was handed over by his own disciple Judas. Are you ready for the next few hours? Become a part of it. That's why we relive this every year...so we get a glimpse of what this experience might have been like when it was actually happening.

By feeling the emotions of tonight, when Jesus and the apostles have the Last Supper, we can hear what Jesus says, and reflect on his thoughts before everything goes down. What is interesting about reading the Passion is that before Jesus goes into the garden to pray, they all sing a hymn. I would love to know what kind of hymn they sung. Was it joyous? It's hard not to sing without great feeling and emotion, and in this case, Jesus was hours away from death, so I would imagine this hymn wouldn't be any different when it came to emotions. Knowing what was about to happen in its entirety, maybe Jesus wanted to settle everyone down by singing, and distract them through song.

After the hymn, they go into the garden, where Jesus isn't so joyous, even asking God to not let him go through with it. We get that all the time in life. There are things we simply do not want to do, but have to, either for the prospect of a better future for ourselves or for someone else. Sometimes we have to do things we don't want to do...and Jesus is a perfect example of that. He did it not for himself, but for the rest of salvation. Because of Him we have something to believe in. If every one of us did one one-hundredth of Jesus' sacrifice, our world would be that much better.

So, participate in each of the next few days, and maybe you'll be able to take what is learned now, and let it last not just until Easter, but well beyond that into our future.

Can you see?

2011-04-06T10:12:00.000-07:00

From the Gospel of John: Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you are saying, ‘We see,’ so your sin remains."

This past weekend we heard a story of Jesus healing a man's blindness. Pretty amazing event actually. Yet, there is more to this story than a simple man not seeing then seeing two seconds later. Jesus teaches us something about "sight."

That last statement in the Gospel shown above isn't the easiest one to understand. The majority of us can see, but Jesus isn't talking about the sense of sight, but the sight that lies within us. By saying that "We see," we don't recognize our shortcomings and our limitations. Sure, it's our job in life to strive to be able to become as much like Jesus as possible, but that's a lofty goal to attain. By saying, "we see," we are acting like we already know it all, and that thirst to become better people is not there.

We have a lot to learn. Whether you're 7, 17, 27, 37, or 107, everyone has a little something to learn. Think about the last time you met someone 20 years older than you. It's hard to ignore how much more wisdom that older person has compared to the younger one. At 22, I am often dumbfounded at these people's skill at recalling all these different stories with all the different places they've been and people they've met. I can't even imagine knowing that much, but maybe someday down the road I'll know a tenth of what these older people do.

With that in mind, I'm sure that person 20 years older than myself has another person 20 years older than them that dumbfounds them as well. We need to respect that, and the fact that everyone has a lot to learn.

In this stage of Lent, we are more than halfway through. How much have you learned over these 20 days or so? Or did you begin Lent thinking you did not need to change anything? If that's the case, it might be time to go take a look at that Gospel reading once again, and find something, even a little bit smaller, to work on.

You've got time.

Down the Stretch We Come

2011-03-24T09:53:00.001-07:00

Well, here we sit. It's the end of March. Spring Break is over. All that's left are just a few weeks of classes and summer will be here, or in my case graduation. At the same time, it's also Lent, another time of growing and thinking and prayer.

Jesus is transfigured in this week's Gospel before the very eyes of his apostles, yet, they don't seem to fully understand what is going on. That's not always a bad thing. Too often in life, we feel like we need to be given the answer instantaneously. In this society, where people get nervous when their friends don't message them back, those on the spot answers are commonplace. It's almost shrinking that aspect of time, which is a fascinating thing.

Sometimes 8 hours can feel like 24, and vice versa. Or a whole week (see Spring Break), can feel like a blur of a day. But, the answers we are looking for aren't always right in front of us, mere seconds away. The apostles never really understood what was going on with Jesus, or what would happen to Him, but they followed his path anyways, because in their heart it was the right thing to do. They eventually received an answer to their questions, and were able to understand what was incomprehensible at one time.

Patience is so important. Jesus shows us that by never fully giving away what was bound to happen. The disciples had to figure it out for themselves...naturally. If we try to force answers in our own lives, but that course of action might ruin an otherwise unbelievable answer. By gradually picking up the clues God gives us in life, we can find the right path in life. That aspect of time is so important, as life is only so long, which makes life more about the ride than the end result. By doing our best to follow God, the answer to the What if's will come at one point or another.

So, as near the halfway point of Lent, let's remember that if we are patient, and use this prayerful time to make ourselves better, our answer could be exactly what we are looking for, or more importantly what God is looking for in us.

As for the whole graduation thing, it seemed so far away freshman year, but now that it's right in front of me, it feels like just yesterday I was pulling up on campus for football preseason practice for the first time. Interesting how time works. I'm sure my next few blogs will be just as sappy when it comes to ending my college career, so I'll save some of that for later.

But, with all the unknown that follows these 4 years, it's time to put that in God's hands, and for now, enjoy this ride.

And They Lived Happily Ever After

2011-02-16T10:06:00.000-08:00

St. Valentine's Day was just a couple days ago. I could talk about love and romance and hearts and relationships, but I don't really feel like it, and it's not like I'm qualified to talk about any of that either. So anyways, I thought about those romance or chick flick movies that can often make a person get emotional or even tear up.

Now from time to time I have become a victim of these stories of broken hearts and repaired hearts and other things of that matter, and have been on the verge of getting a little bit emotional...maybe. But I beg to ask a question: What makes us get so emotionally involved in such trivial matters? Sure, a person doesn't profess their love for someone else every day of the week, but either in happiness or sadness, why are our heartstrings tugged so much that we ourselves feel a part of the moment?

That happens with human interest stories on television as well. You see a story of a man throwing away his life of drugs and reckless living to save his own children on a 60 Minutes special. Or watching an ESPN special where a mentally challenged child becomes a part of a football team by being a manager. Even in my own high school, a young man who was a manager for years was given a standing ovation at my high school after receiving 3 medals in the Special Olympics.

Even picturing those stories, especially when you know the person, can bring out emotions you didn't even know you had. I realize there's a difference between a movie where people find lost love and the Special Olympics, but nonetheless we feel those emotions because of how we ourselves can relate to those situations.

They are feel-good stories...an example of the goodness in the world, which can be a cold place. The beauty of the Grace of God is that He is with us both in those good places and cold ones. He wants us to feel those emotions. It shows that we are human. It's not easy being numb to everything that happens around us. Sure, some people cry more easily than others, I'd be the first to admit that.

You look at the love stories in movies, and it's not exactly common for someone to go on a plane to catch someone before they get married like in The Wedding Singer. But maybe in our lives, that will be a car or a train, (hopefully we won't need to do something that drastic), but it's possible. Sometimes God's plan is what we may think is crazy. The road isn't always straight...kind of like the Rascal Flatts song "God Bless the Broken Road." It can be scary, but maybe we can have our own movie-like script to something remarkable happening in our own lives, whether that's tutoring someone to do something remarkable or doing it ourselves.

So, there's nothing wrong with watching a chick flick or two, even myself can be caught doing that from time to time. I think it's good for a person to see and feel that every so often.

Now I'm no George Clooney, but God's road for me has been fascinating thus far, and hopefully in addition to my own I can help someone else find their fairy tale ending.

Being the Attitude

2011-02-11T10:08:00.000-08:00

We've all heard the Beatitudes a million times. Even growing up, I stood in front of classrooms having to recite them, scared to death at getting "kingdom of heaven's" and "peacemakers" confused. Each one states it's case for how we should live our lives, and how those who do live that way our rewarded. On this upcoming Sunday, we'll receive another wake up call in the realm of the Ten Commandments, when Jesus himself goes through various aspects of those rules that were set in place so long ago.

By really listening to something like the Beatitudes, all sorts of emotions can arise. Something that comes up in my mind is simply...fear. As comforting as the name of them seems to be, and as nice the rewards seem, sometimes I struggle to relate to the descriptions of each entity or case that Jesus talks about.

We've got time, let's break em down.

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven..."

Yes, I would love to go to heaven, I'm pretty sure everyone else would love that too. Yet, how poor is my spirit? I don't think this one is talking about the amount of(or lack of) cash in your wallet. Maybe it's about those who have gone through the toughest hardships of life, and have struggled through keeping their faith because of that. They're trying though, and maybe looking for some help, that's where those who have been given a little bit more come in, and maybe they can share in the kingdom as well.

"...Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted..."
Well, this one is fairly self explanatory, as obviously many people in the world are in mourning this very moment. Take a step back, and think about the pain some people are suffering right now. For many of us, our daily dramatic "problems" are nothing compared to this...something we all need to put into perspective. Instead of worrying about those simple problems that might seem big, why not fulfill the second half of this Beatitude, and be the ones who do the comforting.

"...Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land..."
Not everyone has the most outgoing and powerful personality. Everyone's different. There is nothing wrong with that kind of attitude, unless it is used to impose a certain will upon others. Maybe those are the people that Jesus is describing as "meek." You think about something as concrete as land and realize that those with power usually take over the less powerful's land. But then again, Jesus isn't always talking about the actual possessions or objects in his stories or parables. Sometimes, those people lose themselves, either by way of brute force by others, or with the inability to do anything for themselves. The land is their way of life. It's almost like God knowing the world isn't fair, and sometimes people are helpless to change their situation, and must change themselves to make it in today's society. Jesus is blessing them here, saying that someday they will become themselves again.

"...Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied..."
God doesn't need a lot to grant us His Grace. He wants our love and trust that's all. At times, that can be easier said than done. But if we strive to be good people, God will eventually reward us. All of us have had that feeling that we catch tough break after tough break. We sometimes hear that saying, "Bad things happen to good people." I think that's dumb. Bad things happen to everybody. It's how we react to them that determines the kind of people we are. And even in the midst of the worst crisis, if we still look to God for help, we need to trust that we will be rewarded.

"...Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy..."
This one is right out of the "Do unto others as you would have done to you" mold. Now it's never taught that we should do things for others to get something back. We should never expect anything back, other than our own self satisfaction of helping another human being. But being good to others has its benefits, and God is telling us that if we do live that kind of lifestyle, a certain sort of Karma, to steal a Hindu term, will be with us in our own lives. Even if you don't receive the mercy directly from the person you were merciful to, rest assured that that person might just spread your good will to someone else.

"...Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God..."
That's a great reward...being able to "see God." Something that anyone would love to do. But then again, maybe it's not necessarily seeing God in heaven in a physical kind of way, but in other things. Being clean of heart might be living without that cynicism that surrounds our society today, and seeing God in any aspect of our lives. It might be a rainbow, a good person or even in a tough situation. For our lives on earth, that might be the closest we get, just because of a positive outlook on our lives.

"...Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God..."
Jesus tried to make us all peacemakers in his works, creating problems among the doubters with His good will. He did all of that, so that we could create peace. He wants us to follow in His footsteps, and become a child of God. We do call Him our Father after all, so let's deem that true by acting more like Jesus did.

"...Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven..."
The fact that the "kingdom of heaven" is mentioned as a reward twice fascinates me. It always made it a little easier to memorize, but now it has an even greater meaning in this Beatitude. This one goes along with all the others, building up to standing up for what's right, which is exactly what Jesus did. What we do doesn't always have to be the most popular action, especially if we want that reward. But we live in a world of peer pressure and societal norms. That scares people into going with the flow, which separates us from God. The only thing that can get us through those pressure situations is God though, and by following our heart, we are led in the right direction, even though the people closest to us might not like it very much. Taking a short cut might seem beneficial at the time, but doing something right will be beneficial for all time.

Finally..."Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.”

That one stand for itself.

So maybe they aren't that scary after all. By really looking at them, it's a simple blueprint for living a happy and healthy life. It doesn't have to be so hard all time. People often ask what the meaning of life is...well Jesus gives a pretty solid outline for how to live right here, so start here and see where your heart takes you.

Then maybe, someday, the kingdom of heaven will indeed be yours.

Fishers of Men

2011-01-26T09:44:00.000-08:00

I'm back for my final semester here at Ithaca College and at the Ithaca College Catholic Community. So, I hope you enjoy these last few months of blogs, I'll do my best to keep them insightful and interesting...here it goes....

Imagine yourself in the prime of your career, really bringing home the bacon. Put yourself in the position of a teacher, and as you mold young minds, you see a man with a beard outside the classroom door...he beckons you to speak with him outside. He says, "Come with me, I'll make you a fisher of men."

Now, this is what I would be thinking...How did this person get into the building...the only thing I've ever fished for is fish...and how would the man expect me to leave my class in the middle of an important math lesson?

Yet, in this week's Gospel, Jesus is that man in the hallway. He calls out to Simon and Andrew while they were fishing and they respond by dropping their nets and going with Him. That's an extraordinary act of faith. I know it was a different time, with different priorities and needs in everyday life, but we can still learn something from this story.

It's another example of taking time out to recognize why we are here on earth. While we can't put our job and income last on our list of priorities, we can still rearrange some of the stuff that we "care" so much about in our daily lives. Schedules seem so jam packed all the time, but if we make it a priority, there is time for God to come through in our lives, after all, shouldn't He be our number one priority?

But there's many ways to do that. Fifteen or even just five minutes will not ruin your job, career, family, or life in general. Saying a prayer is usually a good way to clean up your day, but how about something else too. Make it an unplanned five minutes, and maybe randomly say hello to someone at a gas pump. What's more awkward anyways, standing there pretending to be invisible, or having a simple conversation about the cold weather with a total stranger? You might learn a little something not only about them, but about yourself as well. That's what God wants us to do, and that's probably what Jesus would do. By bringing those people into our lives, He is calling us away from our box for a little bit, from our rigid routines.

Catching fish is all about patience, which is vital for everyday life. By having the patience to take time out to follow God during out daily life, we'll be able to actually see the waters clear, and see the people underneath the sometimes harsh exteriors...like Jesus says, we can become "fishers of men."

It's an interesting thought, but for now, I'm going to take my tackle box and see what I can catch, maybe I'll even find a friend or two along the way.

Don't Give Up

2010-12-08T10:12:00.000-08:00

It might seem like an ordinary basketball doubleheader, on an ordinary night. But on Tuesday evening, there was more at stake than a simple win or loss on a college basketball team's record. It was all a part of the Jimmy V classic on ESPN, inspired by Jim Valvano, who lost his life to cancer more than a decade ago. It's an annual occurrence in an effort to inspire people to give more to cancer research and the Jimmy V Foundation.

As the founder, Jimmy Valvano got the project started during ESPN's ESPY awards in 1993...17 years ago. He gave one of the most touching, inspiring speeches of all time. I encourage you to read the transcript on the bottom, or even watch it online. It may take about ten minutes, but that simple ten minutes may change your attitude on this day, and for days to come, as a dying man spoke about his spirit lasting forever....

Here's the video: http://www.jimmyv.org/remembering-jim/espy-awards-speech.html

Here's the transcript:

Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you Jim Valvano:

I can't tell you what an honor it is, to even be mentioned in the same breath with Arthur Ashe. This is something I certainly will treasure forever. But, as it was said on the tape, and I also don't have one of those things going with the cue cards, so I'm going to speak longer than anybody else has spoken tonight. That's the way it goes. Time is very precious to me. I don't know how much I have left and I have some things that I would like to say. Hopefully, at the end, I will have said something that will be important to other people too.

But, I can't help it. Now I'm fighting cancer, everybody knows that. People ask me all the time about how you go through your life and how's your day, and nothing is changed for me. As Dick said, I'm a very emotional and passionate man. I can't help it. That's being the son of Rocco and Angelina Valvano. It comes with the territory. We hug, we kiss, we love. When people say to me how do you get through life or each day, it's the same thing. To me, there are three things we all should do every day. We should do this every day of our lives. Number one is laugh. You should laugh every day. Number two is think. You should spend some time in thought. Number three is, you should have your emotions moved to tears, could be happiness or joy. But think about it. If you laugh, you think, and you cry, that's a full day. That's a heck of a day. You do that seven days a week, you're going to have something special.

I rode on the plane up today with Mike Krzyzewski, my good friend and wonderful coach. People don't realize he's ten times a better person than he is a coach, and we know he's a great coach. He's meant a lot to me in these last five or six months with my battle. But when I look at Mike, I think, we competed against each other as players. I coached against him for fifteen years, and I always have to think about what's important in life to me are these three things. Where you started, where you are and where you're going to be. Those are the three things that I try to do every day. When I think about getting up and giving a speech, I can't help it. I have to remember the first speech I ever gave.

I was coaching at Rutgers University, that was my first job, oh that's wonderful (reaction to applause), and I was the freshman coach. That's when freshmen played on freshman teams, and I was so fired up about my first job. I see Lou Holtz here. Coach Holtz, who doesn't like the very first job you had? The very first time you stood in the locker room to give a pep talk. That's a special place, the locker room, for a coach to give a talk. So my idol as a coach was Vince Lombardi, and I read this book called "Commitment To Excellence" by Vince Lombardi. And in the book, Lombardi talked about the fist time he spoke before his Green Bay Packers team in the locker room, and they were perennial losers. I'm reading this and Lombardi said he was thinking should it be a long talk, or a short talk? But he wanted it to be emotional, so it would be brief. So here's what I did. Normally you get in the locker room, I don't know, twenty-five minutes, a half hour before the team takes the field, you do your little x and o's, and then you give the great Knute Rockne talk. We all do. Speech number eight-four. You pull them right out, you get ready. You get your squad ready. Well, this is the first one I ever gave and I read this thing. Lombardi, what he said was he didn't go in, he waited. His team wondering, where is he? Where is this great coach? He's not there. Ten minutes he's still not there. Three minutes before they could take the field Lombardi comes in, bangs the door open, and I think you all remember what great presence he had, great presence. He walked in and he walked back and forth, like this, just walked, staring at the players. He said, "All eyes on me." I'm reading this in this book. I'm getting this picture of Lombardi before his first game and he said "Gentlemen, we will be successful this year, if you can focus on three things, and three things only. Your family, your religion and the Green Bay Packers." They knocked the walls down and the rest was history. I said, that's beautiful. I'm going to do that. Your family, your religion and Rutgers basketball. That's it. I had it. Listen, I'm twenty-one years old. The kids I'm coaching are nineteen, and I'm going to be the greatest coach in the world, the next Lombardi. I'm practicing outside of the locker room and the managers tell me you got to go in. Not yet, not yet, family, religion, Rutgers Basketball. All eyes on me. I got it, I got it. Then finally he said, three minutes, I said fine. True story. I go to knock the doors open just like Lombardi. Boom! They don't open. I almost broke my arm. Now I was down, the players were looking. Help the coach out, help him out. Now I did like Lombardi, I walked back and forth, and I was going like that with my arm getting the feeling back in it. Finally I said, "Gentlemen, all eyes on me." These kids wanted to play, they're nineteen. "Let's go," I said. "Gentlemen, we'll be successful this year if you can focus on three things, and three things only. Your family, your religion and the Green Bay Packers," I told them. I did that. I remember that. I remember where I came from.

It's so important to know where you are. I know where I am right now. How do you go from where you are to where you want to be? I think you have to have an enthusiasm for life. You have to have a dream, a goal. You have to be willing to work for it.

I talked about my family, my family's so important. People think I have courage. The courage in my family are my wife Pam, my three daughters, here, Nicole, Jamie, LeeAnn, my mom, who's right here too. That screen is flashing up there thirty seconds like I care about that screen right now, huh? I got tumors all over my body. I'm worried about some guy in the back going thirty seconds? You got a lot, hey va fa napoli, buddy. You got a lot.

I just got one last thing, I urge all of you, all of you, to enjoy your life, the precious moments you have. To spend each day with some laughter and some thought, to get you're emotions going. To be enthusiastic every day and as Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "Nothing great could be accomplished without enthusiasm," to keep your dreams alive in spite of problems whatever you have. The ability to be able to work hard for your dreams to come true, to become a reality.

Now I look at where I am now and I know what I want to do. What I would like to be able to do is spend whatever time I have left and to give, and maybe, some hope to others. Arthur Ashe Foundation is a wonderful thing, and AIDS, the amount of money pouring in for AIDS is not enough, but is significant. But if I told you it's ten times the amount that goes in for cancer research. I also told you that five hundred thousand people will die this year of cancer. I also tell you that one in every four will be afflicted with this disease, and yet somehow, we seem to have put it in a little bit of the background. I want to bring it back on the front table. We need your help. I need your help. We need money for research. It may not save my life. It may save my children's lives. It may save someone you love. And ESPN has been so kind to support me in this endeavor and allow me to announce tonight, that with ESPN's support, which means what? Their money and their dollars and they're helping me-we are starting the Jimmy V Foundation for Cancer Research. And it's motto is "Don't give up, don't ever give up." That's what I'm going to try to do every minute that I have left. I will thank God for the day and the moment I have. If you see me, smile and give me a hug. That's important to me too. But try if you can to support, whether it's AIDS or the cancer foundation, so that someone else might survive, might prosper and might actually be cured of this dreaded disease. I can't thank ESPN enough for allowing this to happen. I'm going to work as hard as I can for cancer research and hopefully, maybe, we'll have some cures and some breakthroughs. I'd like to think, I'm going to fight my brains out to be back here again next year for the Arthur Ashe recipient. I want to give it next year!

I know, I gotta go, I gotta go, and I got one last thing and I said it before, and I want to say it again. Cancer can take away all my physical abilities. It cannot touch my mind, it cannot touch my heart and it cannot touch my soul. And those three things are going to carry on forever.

I thank you and God bless you all.

Something Is Coming

2010-12-01T10:29:00.000-08:00

In case you are wondering, Advent started this past weekend. As a kid, it felt like the longest four weeks of the year, just waiting, waiting, waiting, for December 25th to come around. I'm not going to lie, the presents were pretty cool, which is probably a typical reason to really want Christmas to come around. There was always that reminder though, that it means something more. I had the advantage of attending Catholic school, so the fact that Jesus was the real gift was constantly instilled in my life.

You look at the shopping craze, the way some people just lament the holidays, and all of the stress that accompanies the season. It's easy to say all hope is lost for the real reason of the season. I beg to differ. Instead of turning to the malls to find some real Christmas spirit, I've found that the television has the best semblance of a reminder of why we celebrate this holiday.

The values often expressed in various Christmas specials parallel how Jesus wants us to act. Sure, claymation isn't for everybody, but there is an underlying message that is has some good in it, and it battles those feelings of greed and selfishness that corrupt today's society. Even Charlie Brown and the Peanuts gang gets in the act, with Linus actually telling the Christmas story at the end.

It's easy to stress yourself out over these next four weeks, but maybe, if you just put on the television, something may change deep inside you, as you watch a drawing talk about the real meaning of Christmas. There is no reason to fall into the trap of critisizing people for becoming too involved in the gift getting, because there is hope.

Let's build on that hope in our own lives, and maybe that will make everyone around us a little bit more cheerful as well.

Giving Thanks the Hard Way

2010-11-17T10:07:00.000-08:00

In just about a week, Turkey's will be carved, gravy will be poured, stuffing will be stuffed, and backyards will be filled with brothers and sisters fighting for every inch on the makeshift football fields. It's going to be Thanksgiving. A holiday devoted to a lot of eating and sleeping. Other than that fact, it should be like any other day, as simply saying the word "thanks" should be a regular occurrence...but is it?

It's easy to have a door opened for you and you respond with a thank you. Like I always talk about, it helps build the community around us. Obviously though, really really giving thanks is something deeper. Some of us are given quite a bit in life, some of us aren't. Some of us earn a lot in life, some of us don't. Being thankful for the things we earn is important, as the gifts that God gave us become evident. Without those skills, we would have no chance at earning anything. We need to be thankful for that.

Another aspect of appreciating what we have is actually criticism. How else do we get better? If someone takes the time, to be constructive and let us know when we are in the wrong, that is indeed a blessing from God. If it comes out in an extremely negative way, we need to consider the source, pray for them, and maybe try to take something good out of what they say. It's hard to pray for those who are mean to us, let alone be thankful for those people. Yet, there is some good in everybody, believe it or not.

A lot of times, different arguments can come from seeing family again, which is completely natural. Often those arguments can arise out of sheer nothingness, and may be hiding other frustrations. We need to remember though, not only the reason for the holiday, but the reason we are on this earth to begin with. We need to be happy to be around other people. That's the beauty of being here, learning about other people. That's when life can be the most interesting, when you learn about more and more people, who are different in every way. That makes it fun.

So, let's be thankful for everyone around us, not matter if they are our best friend or our worst enemy. We probably wouldn't be who we are without them, so let's celebrate it, why not? Happy Thanksgiving.

Just a Moment Ago

2010-11-12T09:25:00.000-08:00

Our life is made up of moments, each one individual in its own right, but in some way, connected to all the others preceding it and following it. Now in these moments we become a different person in our reactions to whatever happens to us. They can be both positive and negative towards our growth in life.

Sometimes, these moments can stay with us for the rest of our lives, with us going back in the memory bank and using them as a guide or some type of motivation. Because we all live life for various reasons, with those motivations often coming in the form of mistakes in the past. Some people live a certain way for that very reason, to right some kind of wrong that happened in their lives.

I bring this up, because it actually relates to the football field. As I write these words now, I have one day left in my entire football/organized sport playing career. It's a fascinating feeling. I'm a much different person now than I was back on the first day of Freshman year. My motivations for playing the game have changed as well.

My first two years, I played the game based on something that happened in my past days of playing football. Something negative that happened in a game, which motivated me to work harder than I ever had before, just to make sure I righted that wrong in my life, and that success would be what I remembered from playing the sport, instead of bitter defeat.

Something changed after my sophomore year though, and once again it came in the midst of a devastating loss. Being upset in the playoffs will hurt anyone, and become the cause for motivation for anyone involved. This time though, I did not get anger out of this game, I got something more. I looked in the eyes of the guys who would never play the game again, and thought, isn't this a bit selfish of me, to simply go out and play the game just for myself? Sure, I can have that moment from high school in the back of my mind if I want, but I'd get a lot more out of it if I had someone else to be responsible for.

So, I changed. I thought of everyone on the team, and their backstory, and the way they worked out on the field, and their feelings, and saw something in myself change. I worked just as hard, but there was more of a love in doing so, in that if I did not work as hard as I could, I'd not only be letting myself down, but every single person on the team as well. Learning more about my teammates, I began to have more fun, and enjoy the game for what it was worth. Memories started to emerge, and feelings I did not know I had of this all fading away once my career ended. I mean, I'm going to miss these guys.

Yet, as I sit here in the moment, I realize that this is something I will look back on and smile throughout my life. And that this transformation within myself, from doing something just for myself, to doing it for my teammates as well, will serve me well in life.

Sure, in our everyday lives we must look out for ourselves. That's very important. But by looking out for others, loved ones, friends, family, but strangers too, it makes our lives much more worthwhile. There's a rush to feeling depended on, and responsible for not only our own success, but others as well. Life is too boring all on our own, we need to see the world through other people's eyes as well, because it is often so different than ours that we cannot look away. As we get to know more and more people, and what makes them happy, that makes life a lot more fun.

This moment is a special one, no matter what it is. So it's time to enjoy it, and let it be a memory that we use throughout our lives.

So, tomorrow ends my football career, but 20 years from now, I'll be talking with one of my ex-teammates about something that happened during the season, and at some point, someone will say, "That feels like so long ago."

I'll answer, "Nah, it was only a moment ago."

I'll Be There

2010-11-05T09:18:00.000-07:00

Different experiences obviously produce different emotions, and from that we learn in a different way. At this point of our lives, many of us have been around death and everything that comes with it at least once or twice. We know how it feels, and we all react according to our own emotions and beliefs.

It's the hardest part of life, just a glimpse of how precious life can be. Yet, there is a difference to the feeling you feel between a personal death, and a death you see on the news. Those are two completely different emotions. One is a strong feeling of personal sadness, the other is sadness for those surrounding them, which can, at times be just at strong considering the number of people affected. It's different.

I was put in the middle of this spectrum earlier this week. A friend of mine's sibling passed away suddenly, and myself and other friends went to see him at the wake. Now knowing the person who had died, I had never really done something like that before, other than being an altar server in elementary school at funerals. At that point I didn't really understand what went into this kind of thing.

When you are connected in some way, but not directly, it makes you think a little bit differently. I saw the face of my friend, different than ever before, and it tore me up inside. I saw the face of his mother, overwhelmed by the support. I saw the face of his father, still heartbroken. I saw my own friends, dopes just like myself, humbled by this experience. There were hugs that couldn't last long enough, handshakes that trembled yet still with a sense of firmness.

When a loved one dies, we have our own memories to live on during the hardest times. I had no memories of myself and the person who had passed, so these moments were what I lived by. My memories with my close friend started to filter through my brain, and the fact that his entire life would be different forever, and my relationship with him as well.

There is no right thing to say to anyone, as everyone reacts differently. Just being there though, is often more than enough.

And you know what, it's not fair. But it can't be changed. It's hard to appreciate people on a daily basis, even the people we love the most. At the end of the day though, it's not worth holding a grudge. You just never know. When it comes to family and close, trustworthy friends, it might be time to take a step back from the stupid little things and let it all go for the big picture. We are here just a brief moment in time, some of us a little longer, some of us a little shorter. What is the point of hating, complaining, nagging, and needing in the grand scheme of things?

After attending something like that, anyone that does not call their own family members and just saying "I love you" needs a reality check. Things don't always go our way. But that is one of the only things we can control, a simple phone call, or text message. I've thought about that wake everyday since I went on Monday, it's something I'll never forget.

It's not going to be easy for my friend, as we all know. It isn't easy for anyone. The only thing I can do, is be there for him, and live my own life without a regret, and never forget to keep the main thing the main thing in my mind.

I'm Going to Church

2010-10-20T09:53:00.000-07:00

Just yesterday, October 19th, was the Feast Day of St. Isaac Jogues, John de Brebeuf, and Companions. They were Jesuit priests who were the first North American martyrs to be recognized by the Catholic Church. They died because they defended God, and stood up for their faith even in the toughest of circumstances...a life or death situation.

So now, if there was a gun to your head, and you were asked if you believe in God, what would you say? It's a startling question, hence the Feast Day and the honoring of those who have indeed answered yes by making them known as martyrs. It's an amazing test of faith, and obviously, not everyone has to undergo that kind of test over the course of their lifetime.

But, we are tested to a lesser degree all the time. Something as little as going to church on Sunday can be considered one of those tests of faith. Are you willing to leave a riveting NFL game with your friends at 1 or 9 o clock if you're on the Ithaca College campus on the weekend? What would you say to them as you leave? If not on the IC Campus, how about a beautiful Saturday afternoon or Sunday morning? It's tough to leave, but it's really just an hour.

Some people are scared to express their faith to others, or even admit they are faith. For people my age, it is natural, as it can be weird to be different from the people around us. Some people accept it, some don't. A simple statement like, "I'm going to church," can turn into a 10 minute long debate, or 20 questions, where friends are asking all those tough questions about the Catholic Church and Jesus etc. A lot of those questions start with the word: Why?

Often, there is no explanation other than simply: That's what I believe. Nothing else really needs to be said after that. That is usually the right answer to every question about your faith. You believe it, and you're confident about that, and will defend it.

Now, it's not necessary for all of us to go off gallivanting about our faith, saying that our way is the only way. God doesn't want that. Some people choose to spread the Catholic faith to other countries by being a missionary or something like that, which is what some people are called to do. For us though, the only thing we really have to do is be sure of our faith, even in the toughest of atmospheres. That way, it spreads simply in our daily actions with others around us.

No one is forcing us to believe in God, only our own inner strength keeps our faith alive. So, be proud of it. Be proud of going to church when others decide not to. We get better in that hour. We don't necessarily have to be martyrs, but we can do our best to stay confident with our faith, and not be afraid to spread it to others on a daily basis.

The Man in the Mirror

2010-10-13T10:07:00.000-07:00

As I sit here in my comfortable chair, in a room just around 72 degrees, typing away at almost the latest in technology, it's easy to feel comfortable and relaxed in this atmosphere. It's easy to take it for granted, and even complain or whine about the things I don't have.

Let's take ourselves to another place. A cold, dark one. A tight, enclosed space with 33 other people. No technology to speak of. Close your eyes and see it. Now see it for 69 days in a row. That's what the caved in miners in the San Jose mine in Chile had to deal with. Three months is an entire summer, think about how long that is, and all that you accomplished in that period of time. I completed an entire lifting program through that time, took an online course, and grew closer to my family. Those miners had none of that. Day after day, they had to sit and simply think.

We can often be the victim of our own thoughts, as over thinking anything can lead to flip flopping and possibly going down the wrong road, if our thoughts aren't corrected. Yet, these miners in Chili had nothing to do, but think. It's difficult for even myself to turn my mind off before I go to bed at night, but I don't know how I could handle that for 3 months in a row.

As of now, 17 miners have been rescued since yesterday, as finally these souls have seen a natural light. As near-death experiences often do, some of saved men claim that they are changed people forever.

One man, Mario Sepulveda, said in a CNN.com article, "I was with God, and I was with the devil. They fought, and God won," he said. Sepulveda also said he grabbed God's hand and never doubted that he would be rescued.

Cartoons always seem to show the whole angel and devil on the shoulders routine. But that statement infuses that cartoon into the real world. Now it would be pretty fascinating to see that fight between good and evil actually happen in front of our own eyes, but then you stop and think, when have I seen that in my life? Who won?

Did you take, or grab, God's hand, when it came to trusting Him to get you out of a sticky situation? It's pretty simple to take the easy way out, or the path of least resistance, which usually is the decision that will hurt the most people. Yet, Sepulveda had the strength to take the high road, whatever that might have meant down there, and work through the problem, and above all, have the faith that he would be saved. That's powerful stuff.

Something else that sticks out is the "changed man" idea. It bothers me, at times, that it takes a great tragedy, or near death experience, to really change people. I give them all the credit in the world for feeling like they need to change their lives, and maybe they did need that wake up call. But, for those who haven't had that near death experience in life, let's not wait to change. Yes, mistakes happen, but it's not right to repeat the same ones over and over again. We need to learn from others mistakes as well, so we as a people don't make the same ones.

So, instead of one huge tragic situation that changes us, why not use little ones every week to reevaluate our life? That way the change isn't so drastic so that we lose a little piece of ourselves. Come to church every Sunday, ready to evaluate the week beforehand. The good and bad decisions. The good and bad events. That's the only way to spark real change, and create real goodness. It's a constant state of transition, as we are never completely perfect. But God, and even loved ones, see that effort to indeed be the difference, that might not only change our own lives, but those around us as well.

When it comes to tough situations, we have to know we need God, but that all becomes easier if we tune-up our lives on a constant basis, instead of waiting for a disaster.

As the men get carried up in these next few days, think of their situation, and their thoughts, and how we would react. Michael Jackson sang about "The Man in the Mirror." The question is, do we like our own reaction? If not, you might have explaining to do, not only to God, but yourself as well.

Hopefully, by the end of it all, you can say, "I was, and still am with God."

You Gotta Have Faith

2010-10-06T09:50:00.000-07:00

This week's readings concern faith. And well, there isn't much to say about faith. You basically either have it, or you don't. Sure, we all have doubts, but faith is what saves us from those doubts. It's one of those things that can really change you life though. A trust that we are all part of God's plan, and the piece of mind that He is always with us should keep us cool in even the most dire of situations. No matter what the problem is, faith helps us through it.

There's an emptiness without it, with no real cornerstone to rely on when things get rough, or even when things get great. Faith keeps us grounded, not allowing us to get ridiculously high or low depending on the situation. Ultimately, that keeps us in control of our lives, and able to make wise decisions.

Instead of dragging on and on about faith, today I'll cut the blog short, because my faith is different than yours. It's simply time to step up and make it stronger by growing that trust, coming to church more often, or just praying instead of freaking out.

So think about it, the only one who can change your faith is you.

A Heaven On Earth

2010-09-29T09:59:00.000-07:00

As most of those giving homilies this weekend probably said, this week's Gospel is a tough one to handle. It involves a story Jesus told, where he talks about a rich man being sent to the netherworld after his death because of riches, while a poor man with sores was carried by angles to Abraham's side. Kind of makes you think doesn't it...

We are all used to the saying that the last will be first in heaven and the first will be last in heaven. Read that one again. Tough stuff to sink in. But it's not like we can go out and just live on the streets in the sheer hope that we are the last so that we make it to heaven. That's not giving an effort, which God wants us to do. You can work and have money and shelter, even Jesus had that, but He helped people along the way too. He spread His gifts and shared them with everyone, both rich and poor. That's what God wants us to do, to get to that next level.

Then the question arises, what does heaven look like exactly? We know, usually with God, it's never that cut and dry. I can't answer that question, Father Carsten can't answer that question, I don't think the Pope can even answer that question. It's not like some ocean side resort we can just go to for vacation. The fact that it's that much unknown intrigues me even more, all I really want is a glimpse. Yet, this is why we must learn patience. We have a whole life to live here on earth before any of that happens.

I've always thought about how I miss the old days, the young days, before school really even existed in my brain, playing on some giant slide or playground with my sisters. Whether you have that kind of memory or not, everything seemed easier back then, didn't it?

Well, that's over, or is it? And it's hard not to want that time back. But then you realize, sooner or later, it's actually coming. Except this time, you'll see it through different eyes. Either you or someone close to you will most likely get married and have children someday, and that's when you relive those days, playing with the kids, while spending time with those you once did the same with. Everything overlaps. To me, that's the secret to getting that kind of happiness back, other than the happy times in your everyday life. You get all the perks of being an adult, but get that kind of youthful wonder of life as well. The college age crowd isn't there yet for the most part, my crowd, it's the in between time. But, we cannot just wish for those future days, then we'll miss this precious time now. Every day is actually a huge chunk of our time on earth, especially compared with something as eternal as heaven.

So why not have some heaven on earth now, and enjoy ourselves as much as possible. Life's too short not to. Sure, we have work and problems and all that other stuff to deal with, but there isn't enough time to let it drag us down. If we live the right way, the way God wants us to, we can have all that extra time in eternity. We don't know quite what heaven is going to look like, but we do know that God wants us to give our gifts as much as possible while here on earth. That will truly determine what our heaven will be.

All that is guaranteed to us is this minute on this day on this year. The next moment can be taken away any second, so take this time now, and do everything you can to make it worth not only your own time, but those around you too.

That's where true happiness lies, in those moments we cherish, whether we are a toddler or a grandparent. And don't forget, there's no age limit for playing on the swings.

Take a Deep Breath

2010-09-22T09:47:00.000-07:00

You study for a test every day the week before you take it...but your grade doesn't reflect that.

You practice your trumpet solo until your lips literally turn blue...but you miss that high C the day of the performance.

You run sprints and lift weights every single day for three months...but you still can't pass your conditioning test for the sport that you play.

You try really really hard to impress that guy/girl you have your eye on...but he/she still isn't impressed.

Tough, right? It's failure. A depressing start to a blog, but as Rocky Balboa said in his most recent Rocky movie..."life ain't all sunshine and rainbows." I may have mentioned that speech in the past, but here's a link to copy and paste to your browser to watch it...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXKkIdBYXYM

Anyways, my question is, how do we deal with failure? It's not easy, for anybody, especially when the work and preparation is put in to its fullest extent. But, then again, it's a part of life.

Some people might give up, actually a lot of people give up if they don't think they are good enough at something. When has that ever been okay though? God each gave us gifts as individuals, maybe we aren't trusting that when we give up. Maybe failing to do something is a sign that we ought to use our skills a little bit differently. Keep playing the trumpet, but work up to that high C, so it's more consistent, maybe even approach practicing a bit differently.

The conditioning test won't be the end all and be all. If the work was done, there is a greater force at hand. Keep doing the extra hard work, but maybe use a mental approach as well, and be the best mentally on the entire squad.

The idea is to be the best at what your good at that you can be. We all can't be professional athletes, or get 4.0 after 4.0 after 4.0 every semester in school. But we can be the best at our own major, or at improvising a jazz solo.

The thing we cannot do is get down and depressed, so that it affects the rest of our lives. We need to all take a deep breath. Even the best of us can fail, and it's not all wrong to show emotion from that. We might think we need to be and show everyone that we are strong emotionally, or even others might think that because of our position in society. This article about football players battling depression can serve as a example that anyone can be affected by failure.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/jon_wertheim/09/21/depression/index.html?eref=sihp

But, with faith, we can get past it all. And even use it as motivation for the next time a challenge comes our way. I'm sure you've noticed that an underlying theme in my life is the fact that I'll do my work and put my best out there, and let God take care of the rest. It gives me confidence, and limits the stress I feel on an everyday basis.

Criticism comes from all angles, but like failure, that's a constant in our lives. It's often hard to accept, but by taking it for what it's worth, either constructive or nonconstructive, we can get better. That all comes from trusting both God and ourselves...our own words, actions and emotions.

Failure is a breeding ground for depression. It's a simple matter of how we approach it that makes or breaks our everyday life. It can be a good thing, no matter how hard we work, especially if we have the confidence that God has a plan for us, and knows what is best for us.

So, don't give up, but try again, and again, and again. There is no rule that says we have to stop trying. When we finally have success, it feels that much better. And kudos to those who get it on the first try. Whether it's the first try or the 21st, our confidence should stay the same, and simply do what's within our control to get what we can done.

When we know God is with us, and our preparation is put in, all we need to do is go out there and enjoy it, let loose, and have fun.

...not a bad ending after the Jonny raincloud beginning...

Guess Who's Back

2010-09-15T09:58:00.000-07:00

Everything Jesus did when He was on earth, He did for a reason. The parables or stories He told weren't just random anecdotes to pass the time, they each had a greater meaning. The Bible is structured in a similar fashion, there is always something behind what is said.

We get to the story of the Prodigal Son, which took place in Luke's version of the Gospel this past weekend.

We all know the story...two sons are given their inheritance, one stays home and works, the other goes out and has himself a good ol' time blowing it all on this and that, that song comes back home with nothing, but is greeted like a king from the father, making the other brother jealous, but the father simply says his son has returned, and is thankful...

My guess would be that Jesus is not telling us to go out and party away all of our brains, money, education, friends, and family, leaving us cold and alone. The lesson is more in the way that brother was received by the father. You see, forgiveness is a constant with God, and it's shown again here.

Are we just as forgiving? It's hard to be. We are told that once a person abandons us, and wants something that we don't want, we should treat them like an outcast, especially if they come back. This past summer, NBA star LeBron James decided his team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, wasn't good enough, and he bolted to play with two more stars in Miami as a member of the Heat. In his first game in Cleveland playing against his old team, I'm pretty sure they won't have a party, as boos and jeers will rain down from every fan in the seats.

It's obviously not easy to forgive once you've been betrayed, especially if everyone's mindset is the same. Now I'm not saying to treat Lebron like the son and kill the fatted calf in celebration, but maybe everyone should simply respect his wishes...it is his life after all.

So let's apply that to our own lives. It's ok to be emotional, don't get me wrong. My mom yells at me all the time to show some more emotion, and you gotta listen to you mother, it is what it is.

Think about it...it's ok to be mad when a friend decides to leave you out of their plans for the night. It can be offensive. But, how you then react to that shows your true makeup. Will you overreact, causing a dramatic evening for everyone involved? That's not the way to do it. Just as they need to live their lives, you need to live yours. You need only yourself to make yourself happiest. So relax and do that in a different way, that doesn't involve that friend. Maybe next time you'll be included, maybe you won't, but don't let it make or break your day or night.

When it comes to being responsible for someone else, the father was probably hurt when his son ran off, but he needed to press on with his life. That was his son's decision. No matter what you do, either as a parent, sibling, or friend, it's always their decision, and as hard as you might try to sway that, you cannot get into that inner core of their conscience. Once again, just like God is with you, he is with our loved ones too. We can only control our own lives, so we need to worry about that first and foremost, and not let our loved ones decisions bring us down. We need to be there, but at a certain point, it's up to them, and the father knew that. He was just happy to have him back at the end of the story, and we need to greet anyone who does that to us the same way. No judging, no drama, just forgiveness and love.

I might have rambled a little bit, and I apologize for not having a "Dark Knight" Batman/Morgan Freeman reference. But, we need to trust each other and in God, that mistakes happen, and that people betray one another, and leave one another, and that the only thing we can control is our own individual actions.

Trust, and maybe our blood pressure will collectively go down just a little.

So, enjoy the day, because you can.

Labor Day

2010-09-08T09:46:00.000-07:00

There are all sorts of holidays throughout the year. Some of them are religious in nature (Christmas and Easter), while others salute the armed forces (Memorial Day and Veterans Day). This past Monday though, was Labor Day. Everything, for the most part, shuts down.

Many look at it as just a long weekend, a chance to grill one last time before the frigid air of fall and winter finally moves in. But, we have the day off for a reason, an important reason. Much like Memorial Day, the unofficial beginning of summer, Labor Day, the unofficial end of summer, is under appreciated.

But, once again, it's time to look at this a little differently. We all work hard on a daily basis at our respective positions. Whether you're a businessman or a teacher, a day off is a blessing. It's also a time though, to reflect and pray for those who, even though it's a national holiday, still had to wake up and go into the workplace.

How do you think that newscast at 6pm went on? Anchors and reporters worked all Labor Day to put that together, most likely without any overtime hours.

How did that grass on the golf course you played on get cut? Well, someone was up before sunrise on the mower making sure the course looked nice.

Yup, those 24-hour operators weren't an automation either, as people had to come in and work so you could have your high definition satellite television fixed on the telephone.

Every job is different, some more different than others. Some baseball players only play once every five days, and get millions to do that. Others work 80 hours a week for just enough money to support their family.

It's a slippery slope, the job market. God wants us to be happy and love what we do. Usually, the more you like something, the harder you'll work and you'll be better at performing the tasks over the course of the day. However, out of necessity, some have to take the job, or jobs, that are available where they live. It's much harder to love work when one is forced to do it. We need to pray for those people, that they will work through those tough times, and find their niche, that will be both beneficial to their bank account and their well being.

I bring up the fact that we need money because this week's Gospel can be tough to handle. Who wants to renounce all of their possessions? How would one live, and support their loved ones, in those conditions? We don't necessarily have to take Jesus literally here. There are a few possibilities as to what exactly he means...

-He could be saying that we need to get rid of our lavish, gluttonous possessions. The stuff that we don't really need. Houses with 7 extra bedrooms, 4 extra cars for only 2 people, diamonds upon diamonds for your spouse...stuff like that. Those funds can go to better causes, that would help others out much much more.

But I have another thought that might be a bit more practical for those that don't have the funds to buy a million cars...

-Maybe Jesus is saying that we need to renounce the possessions of our mind. The thoughts of doubt, negativity, self-pity, and cynicism all are thoughts that bring us down in every way possible. They "possess" and take over our minds as well, not letting or shutting out anything good that wants to come in. By stripping those away, or getting to the root of those thoughts, we make room for Jesus, and his words. Think of the focus you can have during Church. Imagine hanging on every word the Priest says throughout mass...now that would be an accomplishment for the greater good.

Ok, so Labor Day? Let's tie it together. It's easy to take our own jobs and salary for granted, but let's appreciate those that work behind the scenes to make everyday life possible. Their happiness and well being at home depends solely on the money coming in from their job. For others, it's time to give all that extra money to those people in need, so that we can indeed have that piece of mind to rid ourselves of negativity. Life is too short to dread our job, or coming home, or random things in life in general. Don't be that miserable person, be that person who brightens everyone's day.

So, with your own possessive negativity renounced...why not start a pleasant conversation with that cashier on their last leg, and maybe inspire them to do the same.

These Changing Times

2010-09-01T09:37:00.000-07:00

As the date turned from August 31st to September 1st last night, more than just the picture on your calendar changed. Although it's still a million degrees outside here in Ithaca, in just a few days, Labor Day will signal the unofficial end of summer. School buses will be back on their normal routes, those late summer nights will turn into 10:00 bed times.

While all of those seasonal changes are taking place, something bigger is going on at the same time. Everyone is a year older, and most, but not all, a year wiser. Think about where you were on this date one year ago. What were you doing? What was your state of mind?

Now, as a senior in college, I can't help but look back on four years ago at this time. I was just a little freshman, really without a clue what was going on. Now at 22, I feel pretty old. I mean, one of my teachers even told me they thought I had already graduated. Entertaining, but it makes you think a little bit. The fact is that no matter where you are in your life, age 12,22,42,or 62 you need to really ask yourself if this is where you want to be. Your own personal happiness can often control the happiness around you. It's contagious isn't it? A person is much more willing to help someone else, with a smile on their face, when they are happy with their own life. As things change, both big and small, it's important to remember that fact, and to stay in and treasure each and every moment, because before you know it, you're 22.

That idea of staying in the moment, and figuring out your state of mind as things change, relates to last week's readings too...it wouldn't be a Session with Eschen without some kind of connection right? The first reading from Sirach says not to search into things beyond your strength. You cannot control a lot of what happens in the future, which is why we all need to focus on the here and now, and if the way we are living makes us truly happy.

Adversity hits at unexpected times. We all know when the leaves will change from green to red to nothing, and can get ready for that. Our human nature tells us when to gear up for a school year or work, but it's what we do on a daily basis that gets us ready for anything bad that might happen unexpectedly. That's the only part that is within our strength.

The ongoing theme this week is to humble yourself. We need to humble ourselves enough to say that, hey, we need help, especially for those different aspects that are beyond our strength. That is where God takes over. With him, it's that much easier to get through tough times, and tough transitions as well. Your faith will be rewarded.

Somehow, Morgan Freeman is a constant in my movie references, but this time, it is him whose faith is rewarded. A couple years ago, the Batman movie, "The Dark Knight," was a summer box office hit. Morgan Freeman is Batman's technological guru, designing suits, weapons, and even the famous Batmobile. At the end of the movie, Batman puts his own spin on one of Freeman's inventions, making every cell phone a sonar like device, enabling Batman to invade every person's privacy in the city. Freeman says it's too much power for one man to have, and vows he will resign after Batman saves the day. But, after Batman tells Freeman to type his name in at the end, the system combusts, showing Freeman that indeed, his mind was in the right place.

Go to 1:02 of this link, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9c8w8ONAWM, to see the scene.

Freeman may not have liked that turn of events at the beginning, but Batman showed him the good that came from tough times.

As a whole, we are better because of all of the adversity that comes our way. Sure, it might be tough to handle in the moment, but by having faith in God, that he will indeed reward us for believing in him, and that good will come of it, we can get through it.

Starting college for the first time might be a big change, starting your first year at a new job might be one too. Starting your junior year might be a small blip on your radar, much like the end of summer for some. A sports injury or a family emergency will be unexpected. But, by focusing only about what is within our strength on a daily basis, we are ready for anything. By having faith in God being at our side, we don't have to question the fact that good will come from bad. That is how we get through those changes.

And as old as I might joke that I am, I know that today is all that matters, so why not enjoy it. When changes hit, it's time to embrace them, instead of hiding. It makes us who we are today, and who we will be a year from today too.

Back to Work

2010-08-30T10:00:00.000-07:00

Well, I'm back for one final year here at the Ithaca College Catholic Community, and will once again be sharing thoughts about God, sports, school, and anything else that happens to cross my mind.

For those of you new to this forum, my name is Tom Eschen, a journalism major at Ithaca College. I played baseball for two years at IC, and am currently in my fourth and final season of playing football for the Bombers. This is my second year blogging with the Ithaca College Catholic Community, and hopefully I'll get better with every new post. So, I'm open to any suggestions or comments, of which you can either post right to the site or email me at teschen1@ithaca.edu.

It should be a fun semester, with my first post coming this Wednesday, September 1st...yes it is September already.

Good stuff...I'll see you out there.

The Golden Rule

2010-05-03T10:31:00.000-07:00

Well, Jesus can't make it much simpler in the Gospel this week. He sums up basically all 10 Commandments in one simple statement: "Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another."

If you're looking for the key to life, read that statement again. Then again, it might be easy to say, but surely it isn't the easiest thing to do. I'm not saying go and buy flowers and candy for someone who just beat you up or hurt you badly emotionally, I'm just saying that you may not like them, but they are one of God's children just like you and me. That's why you love them, because they are made out of God's image and likeness.

At the end of this Gospel, Jesus says, "That is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."

It's like those television commercials where people doing good deeds spreads, and gets passed on and on and on. Someone opens a door for someone, then that person helps someone pick up papers, then that person lets them use their pen. The little things. If someone sees you showing compassion even in the toughest of atmospheres, they'll definitely learn from that. It's quite common to be wrongly accused of doing something to someone.

Say your best friend thinks you intentionally are trying to sabotage a relationship with someone else, and screams at you for that. It's easy to give in and fight back, but Jesus wants us to take a deep breath, and discuss things like human beings. By having that love of each other in the front of our minds, respect for other's viewpoints and opinions grows. Then, conflict can actually be resolved without World War 3 happening in your living room. By doing that, God can actually see that you truly believe in his teachings.

This whole taking a breath thing is widely underrated and underused. A few weeks ago, I was blogging about the month of April, which looked like it was going to be the end of me considering all the things I had to do. I actually read my blog more than once that day, and it calmed me down. The four weeks of April flew by, I'm still amazed that it's already May. It wasn't as painful as I thought it would be, because I took a step back and knew it was something I simply had to do, so there was no use stressing over it.

But sometimes, we need to take a step back from our own lives as well, and look at the even bigger picture. We cannot ignore national problems. Of course, we need to manage our own little lives and communities at first, but then we need to look at what is going on in the world around us.

Just a few days ago, gallons upon gallons of oil were accidentally spilled in the Gulf of Mexico. Some are saying it might be worse than the Exxon Valdez disaster in 1989. It's going to take months and months to clean it up, with the real damage being irreversible. Maybe we need to start thinking about how to help out, instead of being engrossed in our own little problems. Those problems probably aren't that big of a deal,but an oil spill is life-altering for people, communities, animals, and the environment as a whole. The least we can do is raise awareness that it actually happened, and get everyone else out of their shell and learn what is going on nationally.

Let us also be thankful for those who thwarted the potential car bomb in Times Square last week. Think about what would have happened if they had been too late...it's tough to picture, but we need to realize that the whole love thing I was talking about earlier isn't shared among all. In return, we as individuals and as a country can't lash out against the perpetrators, but in turn try to see their reasoning behind it and understand, and then make an effort at compromising beliefs. It might seem impossible, but it's been said before: Nothing is impossible with God.

So let's start loving one another, and hopefully those who don't have that love in their lives will watch Jesus' disciples turn the other cheek with pride and learn from that, and that maybe there is an alternative to fighting and violence. First let's do it in our own community, then expand it to the world.

By taking some small and then big steps, you might even surprise yourself.

With the first pick...

2010-04-26T12:49:00.000-07:00

Greetings from a rainy day in Ithaca, NY. Considering 70's are forecasted for the weekend, I'll take my fair share of dreary Mondays. Anyways, sports references galore these days...but they make sense, so why not?

The National Football League's 2010 Draft took place over the weekend, an exhibition on rating people, the analysis for the three draft days is endless. Teams and fans of those teams are reassured by the thought of getting better in just a matter of minutes.

So, maybe it's time to think about your own life. Evaluate what parts you need to improve and what parts are doing pretty well. All the NFL teams did that same thing this weekend. Some had a weak offense, so they drafted players who would help that aspect of the team. Others may have lost their quarterback in the offseason, so if they were smart, they drafted a quarterback.

How smart are you though? Are you going to make the right move at this point? If you're struggling at respecting yourself, why not go on a diet, or go for a run. Each gives you confidence, rounding out your lifestyle. Doing something like that in lieu of a bad habit is key as well.

But a draft is really about people helping you get better...it's kind of hard to just pick up self-respect out of thin air. We all need help from others. So, think about who in your life can help you in specific areas. Maybe you can pinpoint a friend who will help keep you on that diet and exercise, who motivates you more than you yourself can. A running partner, or someone to eat with. It helps.

Why not make list of people like that just like the NFL teams...I would include mine but it's a pretty exclusive and private list. My all time #1 pick though is Jesus, He probably should be yours, considering He knows how to fix all of our shortcomings himself, and often acts through the closest people in our lives to make us better. But seriously, write it down. Like in the NFL, you only have seven rounds, so choose wisely. It's amazing how you can turn out if you surround yourself with the right people.

Don't think you're just using them either, as each person affects each other in a different way. We each have an impact on those closest to us, just like they have one on us.

We are really all in this together, and it's a lot better relating to each other, than living life as a loner. Sure, being independent has its strong points, but there is a time and place for everything. Moderation is important in life...with one exception...God.

So, pretend like you're an NFL Team, and you have to pick the seven people that you care about the most, and can help make you a complete, wholesome, and happy human being. Then make those bonds stronger.

One last note on the rain...a good quote I've heard more than once in my life..."If you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain..."

21 Days Away

2010-04-20T12:47:00.000-07:00

The golf world revealed another act of God this weekend, as rules were actually followed in a sport for once. We live in a day and age where cheating runs rampant in professional baseball, football, basketball, golf and hockey. It may be involving morals, or may just be trying to gain an edge physically. Performance enhancing drugs are mostly to blame for that. But in last weekend's Verizon Heritage golf tournament, golfer Brian Davis actually proved that winning just isn't the same if it's not done within the rules.

He had been battling with Jim Furyk all day, both at the top of the leader board. Furyk has been one of the better players on tour over the course of his career, winning multiple times. Davis though, was looking for his first-ever victory. After hitting the ball into a sand dune on the last hole, Davis had to play a pretty tricky shot to keep himself in contention. While he was bringing the club back in his swing, he just barely clipped a loose reed laying down in the sand. That is a rules violation in golf. Unseen by the naked eye, no one knew but Davis. Instead of letting it go unnoticed, the golfer called the penalty on himself, which was a two stroke violation, eliminating his chances of winning his first tournament.

Now ask yourself, would you do the same thing in that situation? That's putting honesty to the maximum, especially with a monetary value on the line. It's like telling a cashier they gave you too much change, or that you were graded too high on a test or paper. It takes a certain kind of person to go through life that way. Everyone wants to act that way, but it is pretty easy to take advantage of catching a break or two.

The question then is did you deserve that break? A lot of times, people feel entitled, like they deserved an award over someone else, or that they had money stolen from them so they deserved a couple extra dollars. The only ones who deserve anything are those who haven't sinned. Haven't seen anybody like that in 2000 years or so. Everyone else is on an even playing field. That's why hard work is required: To -earn- the good things in life. We might work our hardest, and things still might not work out. Once again, that's just a part of God's plan. We all learn something from working hard, no matter if we are successful or not. On the last hole, the win didn't matter to Davis, he knew that if he cheated his way to winning he wouldn't deserve the victory. Yet, he learned he can play pretty well by working hard. I bet, that in the next time he is in that position, he will indeed perform better, obviously learning from his mistake of the past.

Look at this week's Gospel. The apostles are once again out fishing, which they don't seem that great at considering their past endeavors. But once again, Jesus proves to be the difference. He tells them to put the net on the other side of the boat, where fish are abundant. Peter...who has made his fair share of mistakes in the past...jumps out of the boat into the water to get to shore where Jesus is. Don't quote me on this, but I'm pretty sure bathing suits were lacking those days, so envision Peter, drenched in heavy clothing, scurrying to meet Jesus on shore. Pretty solid act of faith there.

Sometimes, maybe we just need a little nudge in the right direction. I believe everyone truly is good at heart...just like Peter. Put your net on the other side of the boat. Change a bad habit into a good one. You've got to work at that too. The head Ithaca College football coach always says it takes 21 days to establish a habit, good or bad. That means I have to commit to standing on the correct spot on the field for that amount of days, or else I'll always be in the wrong place.

Think of how being focused on doing something good for three straight weeks will impact your life for the rest of the year. It's not that long, just 3 out of 52 weeks in a year. It may be hard at first, but by training yourself in a good way, you will start to earn things, instead of feeling like you just deserve to be rewarded. Maybe start that 21 day process by simply switching those two words in your life. Catch and stop yourself when you think about entitlement, and insert the word earn and hard work into your everyday life. That will cut down on laziness that each and every one of us has.

As I said above, Davis trained himself to act and think in a honest way. He had all the incentive in the world to keep his mouth shut, yet his good habit said that wasn't an option. Peter had some bad habits at times, but he trained himself to recognize God and believe in Him.

Let's start some of those 21 day cycles right now.

Faith Be With You

2010-04-12T10:33:00.000-07:00

The week after Easter Sunday always features the classic Gospel of Jesus appearing before the apostles for the first time. It's the story of Thomas doubting the fact that Jesus rose from the dead. We hear it every year, and it's kind of the cornerstone story when it comes to faith.

We live with so many doubts in our daily lives. All of the time Catholics question their very own beliefs too. They say, "How do I know Jesus rose from the dead?" or "How can I be sure there even is a God?" That's why faith is a cool thing. It's believing in something that isn't even there.

Look at Santa Claus. There is nothing like the innocence of a child right? They often have more faith about something as trivial as a man in a big red suit than adults have about their Creator. The kids don't need to see Santa Claus to believe in him, they just know he is there. Faith is knowing that God is there, and believing in every part of Him and everything He did and will do.

Yet, God knows that we are sinners, and that we have transgressions and times of doubt just like Thomas...as we are human after all. We may strive for perfection, but that probably won't happen for us anytime soon. As always, God forgives us. Sometimes, he even rewards us for still believing.

The Masters Golf Tournament took place this past weekend, and it is basically the Super Bowl for professional golf. It takes place on the most prestigious course with the best competition of the season. Yet, this year, instead of talk of course changes to Augusta National or whether someone was playing really well, everyone was focused on one thing...Tiger Woods. The star of the sport had been missing for months after his sex scandal where he cheated on his wife with multiple women. Before that, besides some on course blowups, Woods' image was squeaky clean. A great role model. But after story after story came out about his transgressions, it was hard to believe in any "good guy" in sports again. My faith was shaken, and it was hard to trust other stars in sports. But I still thought...everyone can't be like this right?

Myself and fans everywhere were rewarded for thoughts like that. Woods didn't win the tournament, but the softer, rounder lefty Phil Mickleson was victorious. After Phil's wife and mother were both diagnosed with cancer in the last year, his appearance at Augusta should've been the highest billing. Fittingly though, he triumphed at the end, a heartwarming story that made even the coldest of people beam with pride for the man. Unlike his competitor Woods, he couldn't control the distractions of his family life, but was able to focus anyways. All in all, it was refreshing to witness that performance. God showed me that good guys do exist, and can do well in the harshest of environments.

He obviously rewarded the apostles' years of following Jesus and their faith, though shaken, that He would return. God only wanted us to learn from what happened to Him. In his second appearance, He knew Thomas doubted his presence, but instead of making a scene, He simply said...Peace Be With You.

That should be a reassuring thought, that instead of fighting over trivial matters, just admit when we are wrong and there won't be a need for drama or conflict. It might make your life a bit simpler. Then again, Jesus wants us to bring that Peace wherever we go. What does this word Peace mean anyways? Think for a second what it means to you.

You might think of world peace...something Miss America might say, or the word might make you think of saying peace in Mass, or even a "piece" of pie. There's nothing wrong with any of that. World peace might seem unattainable from your position, but you do have a role. On the football field, everyone has a role. If I'm a blocker I better block my man or else my teammate is going to fail. Even if I'm the last guy off the bench, it's my job to practice hard and cheer for my teammates so that they get better. I have an impact no matter what. As a person in this world, you have an impact just like that. No matter how small it is, you have one. Let's just keep that in mind. The signs for being environmentally friendly are everywhere...just listen to some Michael Jackson and it's not that hard to figure out.

Right now, in these times where the economy is doubted and people are shouting that the world needs to be cleaned up, we once again need faith. If we aren't sure about it, God will forgive us. And if we have that knowing innocence of a child, we will be rewarded with peace and justice.

First though, we need to believe in God just because we can. We don't need proof, we don't need primary or secondary sources...we just know. Then, the rest will fall into place.

Now What?

2010-04-05T16:27:00.000-07:00

What a way to start a column…Jesus is risen! After all those subdued days of preparation and prayer, the Easter season is here, not to mention the green buds of Spring appearing on the trees. By all means rejoice and enjoy it. It's one of the two biggest periods of time in the church year, so we better make note of it. When we started Lent, it was all about tweaking our everyday lives to get better for Easter. One of the main points of that though, is to let that change become a part of you long past the Lenten and Easter season.

That's not easy. It's simple to forget what you learned over those 40 days nights. It's simple to be gluttonous and have huge piles of the food you gave up on Easter morning. Lent should show everyone that moderation is vital, and it keeps you centered. It's something you can't forget.

Think about different parts of your life that you've forgotten about, or haven't remembered as much as you wanted to. It's remarkable to think that September 11, 2001 was over nine years ago. Yet, most people go days without thinking about that tragedy. Only the graphic images on the television or a reminder of a fallen loved one rekindle those thoughts. I bring it up months removed from the anniversary, but that doesn’t mean it didn’t happen. Sure, we don't want to be weighed down by those depressing thoughts, but the lessons learned about the value of life should be with us every single day. It changed the way we lived on September 12, why not now?

So here we sit, just a few days removed from one of God's greatest accomplishments, kind of in that recovery mode. What are you looking towards regarding your faith? Did this Lenten season help? Keep in mind; it's an awfully long time until something of this magnitude happens again.

In June, will we remember that Jesus forgave those who had wronged him while he was hanging on the cross? In July, will we remember that He, and not a disciple washed the other disciples feet? In August, will we remember that Joy of Easter, and the fact that the Hope of salvation is always there because of what Jesus did for us?

We might say we will remember, and that those actions hold a permanent place in our minds, but it's harder than everyone thinks. Much harder. Schedules fill up. To do lists get longer and longer. Time devoted to God becomes smaller every day removed from Easter Sunday. After Easter season, it's a long summer of Ordinary Time. The next time most of think of Jesus is when he is born in December.

An obvious solution to this forgetfulness is going to church on a weekly basis. There, the Last Supper is reenacted, kind of making it hard to forget Jesus dying for us. It also helps to hang a cross or crucifix somewhere on a wall in your place of residence. That's a visual, daily reminder of what Jesus did for us.

Those are some active things we can do, but it’s really about retraining our minds and making that mental effort to keep God in our minds. We are allowed to still partake in our daily activities. Going to classes, work, or just having a good time is all good in God’s eyes. But whether you’re in your car, walking on a sidewalk, or just sitting eating lunch, turn the music down or put down the fork, and think about how you felt on Good Friday or Easter. It might give you a different spring in your step or general attitude towards life on that day. It won’t hurt to think of those different momentous occasions in your life either.

Let's make the jubilation of Easter season a part of our lives every single day, especially during those months where we don't have a specific day that tells us to go to church. We don’t need a national holiday…so why not tell ourselves?

Holy Week

2010-03-29T10:28:00.000-07:00

Well, it's almost time for the the big game. Holy Week. It's like March Madness for Catholics, the pinnacle of our Church year. Sure, everyday life is going to go on throughout this week, but it's our job as Catholics to take a step back from that, and to recognize that this is one of the cornerstones of our faith. We reenact this each year, which shows that it truly is important.

The only way to truly observe the Holy Triduum is to make yourself a part of it. Feel the emotions...the foreboding and foreshadowing of Holy Thursday, the pain and sadness of Good Friday, the patience and faith of Holy Saturday, and finally the rejoicing of Easter Sunday. Everyone uses those emotions on a daily basis, so why not use them for God. It helps us learn not only more about God, but ourselves as well.

You'll hear the Passion once again on Friday, but it will be from John. One line in Luke's on Palm Sunday stuck out to me though. Right after the crowd of chief priests, rulers, and regular people yell that they want Barabbas released, Luke tells us that Barabbas had been in prison for a rebellion and murder. I think we all know that murder is pretty bad, and wouldn't want a known murderer running around the streets rebelling. Yet, the people would rather have Barabbas on the streets, than Jesus, who has never hurt a fly. He was just changing the world.

Their thinking is just so backwards that it really makes me think, wow these people had no idea what they were talking about. They thought they did, but lost all sense of reality in the rush of actually making a difference with their voices. It's called getting caught in the moment, and not thinking about the consequences of actions. We can be so set on something that we block out any other alternatives, which probably could be better that what we are set on. That tunnel vision can really hurt us. I'm all for tradition and keeping things the same, but there are times when change really is good.

It's kind of what life is about. Whether it's a good thing or a bad thing, you have to embrace those turns in life, because the alternative is having the same thing happen day after day after day. Not very fun is it? Pretty repetitive. Things can change, but God needs to stay constant, that's where our grounding comes from.

Think about this week, although Jesus told them what would happen more than once, the apostles had their world rocked for three straight days. Some of it was good, some of it was terrible. By being scared to go out in public, their face was shaken too. We've all had those whirlwind stretches, where life's turns seem more severe than ever. We need to keep our faith strong in those instances, and think that maybe this change could be for the best down the road, and lead us where God has us meant to go. That's our fate, and our destiny, and we can get emotional about it.

So, in these next few days, feel sad, feel happy, get scared, give yourself to God and the events that save us. Change really is good, but keep God as that constant, traditional force. The Triduum is a pattern that repeats throughout our own lives, and with God as our Rock, our destiny is inevitable.

Who's on First?

2010-03-22T13:26:00.000-07:00

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.

From Eating Fish to Making Fruit

2010-03-08T12:21:00.000-08:00

Well it's Week 3 of Lent...how's it going? Think on that for a second...Now in the constant effort to not eat meat on Fridays, I've now taste-tested fish at McDonald's, Wendy's and Burger King, which I guess is getting the job done. I prefer Wendy's in case you were wondering or even care. But let's get to what really matters...other than the material things like giving something up, how is your soul doing? Now is not the time to forget Jesus' words on Ash Wednesday.

The Gospel on that day was from Mt 6:1-6, 16-18, and Jesus spoke about giving alms and expecting nothing in return, while not making a big deal to others about fasting or praying. It's not time to slip in those categories. That should all be a big deal, but it needs to be between you and God. Sometimes you may feel like you need to try and get that attention to please God, but it is much better to spread God's words through your everyday actions and good deeds, instead of telling people you are praying, or neglecting your appearance because you are fasting.

If you go into your room and lock the door like Jesus said God still sees you praying, He is still there. This week's reading from Exodus talks about Moses and the Burning Bush. Have you had any moments like that in your life lately? It's kind of like a Transfiguration moment, and God is telling and showing you what to do in the form of signs and your own conscience. That's what Moses saw, and what he felt, and was moved with faith. It's that moment when something hits you, and you are positive that you need to make a change. Or a conversation where the person you are talking to says something that simply makes sense to you, and that you can apply to your own situation. Even a song lyric can do it...usually Michael Jackson for myself I must admit. Don't shy away from stuff like that, it's often God in disguise.

One sentence in that passage really struck me..."Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God."

At this point in not only Lent, but even your life, you may be afraid of facing God. Moses was one of the best guys of all time, even featured in the Transfiguration, yet he could not look at the Father. Much like him, you may have some guilt or even be ashamed about a decision you made. It can be scary to think about how that looks to God.

The thing is, God still loves us. He wants us to look at Him, to feel that forgiveness and hope that comes with being a Christian. As Father Carsten said in his homily last night, suffering is a part of life, and we are human, so we are sinners as well. Our everyday struggles are a part of life too. You have to deal with it at some point. You have to stand up and look God in the eye. Having faith in Him gives us that hope that everything will be alright.

Luke's Gospel has an interesting little story this week that can serve as an example of that hope. Jesus tells it..."There once was a person who had a fig tree planted in his orchard, and when he came in search of fruit on it but found none, he said to the gardener, ‘For three years now I have come in search of fruit on this fig tree but have found none. So cut it down. Why should it exhaust the soil?’ He said to him in reply, ‘Sir, leave it for this year also, and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it; it may bear fruit in the future. If not you can cut it down."

Ever feel like that fig tree, kind of sticking out in the field, nothing really going right? The person with the fig tree didn't give up on it though. It's like the time after your moment of realization like Moses'. First, you are scared, next, you feel guilty, then you have to find a way to move on. That's the most important time, the time to cultivate and grow. It's nice when one thing can go right, like getting a job, rebuilding an old friendship, or getting a free pizza for dinner, which can tip the scales and make one thing after another go right. Before that moment, it was the complete opposite, everything felt like it was going wrong, right? But God doesn't want that terrible cycle to continue. It won't. He wants us to be happy, and then grow and learn from those little experiences, and get things rolling in the right direction to make a better person in the end. We need to work at it though, because we need to put into action the tools or gifts that God gives us...which is the fertilizer. With that we have the ability to make the fruit. And you know what, realistically, if we don't work at it, we will get cut down, and not be nearly as happy or as good at making others happy as we can be.

All in all, we can't forget about our goals at the beginning of Lent. People don't need to know about your own relationship with God, cultivate it yourself. That fig tree was different, but so are we. We just need to recognize that we are wrong sometimes, which can be linked to our own suffering. And if we don't see it ourselves, much like Moses, we might get a Burning Bush or two sent from God along the way. If we take that sign from God and do the work, goodness really will spread like fire.

Putting the Pieces Together

2010-03-01T12:10:00.000-08:00

Our lives are like one giant puzzle. Little and big moments fit together to determine the people we truly are. Each and every one of those moments is important. You get better from the bad ones, and thrive with the good ones. Some are much bigger than others, which obviously have the biggest effect on our makeup.

In mass at Muller Chapel on Sunday, minister Lee Imbriano said these times are our "Transfiguration" moments. The Gospel this week speaks of Jesus being Transfigured on the mountain while accompanied by apostles Peter, James and John.

It's hard to leave when your internal happiness in a moment like that is at a maximum. It might be something as small as getting an A in the hardest course. Or simply meeting a friend or family member for dinner. Or receiving the Body and Blood of Christ. Or talking to a long lost acquaintance. Or meeting someone new. Or falling in love and getting married just like Lee mentioned.

He also spoke about his family reunion this past weekend, and the feeling of possibly saying goodbye to one of his 88 year old relatives for the last time. Think about that. What would you say? What would you be thinking? That moment was a big puzzle piece in his life, and hers. With all of the emotion involved, their eye contact in that last moment may have been a glimpse of heaven.

Why can't we take something like that into our own lives? If you walked around for one full day, knowing it would be your last, knowing that you would never see anyone again, how would you act? We need to live this way. Appreciate that brief moment of conversation between yourself and a friend. Who knows, not to be negative, but it really might be your last. Living that way, it would make everyone appreciate everything a lot more.

Something that strikes me as important about all of this is that everyone takes their different "Transfiguration" moments for granted. If you put a value on everything that you do, it makes life mean something. Those life changing moments are nothing to just dismiss, even Jesus hung out with Moses and Elijah for a little while.

That brings us back to the question I addressed earlier of not wanting to leave. Peter didn't want to walk away from all those great people. But remember, those moments are just glimpses of heaven. We are still on earth, our feet brought to the ground by good old gravity. Heaven is the dream and the hope we have, earth is the reality. By seeing those glimpses throughout our life, we have something to strive towards, and to make those good moments a big piece of who we are, while cherishing them at the same time.

Another aspect of the Transfiguration is God's actual voice saying "This is my chosen Son; listen to Him." His voice is actually heard twice in the readings this week. He speaks to Abram about their covenant in the first reading.

This actual sound of God is tough for a lot of people. They ask, "Why can't I hear the sound of God's voice like they did back then?" Honestly, I ask the same thing sometimes, but God is creative. He shows us what is best through nature, through conversations, through our own thoughts, and through those "Transfiguration" moments. Often, the good feeling that swells inside of us is God saying that being in that place and time is right.

Other times, we are making too much noise to let Him say anything at all. That's why, especially during Lent, we need to spend a couple minutes of quiet time everyday. No TV, no Ipod, no constant texting. Maybe then we'll be able to hear God's voice in our hearts.

It's not easy to appreciate every aspect of life, or live our days like it's our last, or shut off a cell phone, but we are still on earth. Let those moments of pure happiness and those glimpses of heaven transform our thoughts, so that we can move towards eternal happiness. That will only happen if we listen to God's voice in those different ways, and let him put the puzzle of our life together. Don't run away from it, embrace it. He knows what is best. From what I hear, He is quite the expert.

Any questions or comments feel free to send me an email...teschen1@ithaca.edu.

What's the Difference?

2010-02-22T12:26:00.000-08:00

Each one of us is different. We have different histories, mindsets, thought processes, interests, and looks. I might have blue eyes, while you have brown. Your hair might be dirty blonde, mine is brown. I might be not so good looking, you might be the best looking person around. Everyone knows this is so, correct? The one problem that many of us have is accepting those differences. Temptation to judge others comes from that inability to accept.

This struck me while watching and reading recent Olympics coverage. If you do not know, the Winter Olympics are currently being held in Vancouver, Canada.

Here is a link to some NBC's late night coverage featuring Stephen Colbert. Copy and paste it to the top of your web page to get there. You may have to download an application for it as well.

http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/assetid=3f28aedd-76c9-457f-abe6-68e0646a20e5.html

If it didn't work, the feature basically shows Colbert making fun of Canadians, saying they are quote "uninsultable," all while wearing a red and black Canadian Mountie uniform...he is mocking the country.

After watching that, read this article by Rick Reilly...

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=reilly_rick&id=4906756

These are two of the most beloved personalities in the media today. I don't mind listening or laughing with either, but if you really look at these examples, how would you feel if someone made fun of your way of life? I'm kind of disappointed in both.

I'm all for playful ribbing every once in awhile, but never at the expense of my customs or traditions. I love America, but these two examples are demeaning to the entire country of Canada, and three fourths of the audience will miss that. It's another way of saying the US is better than everyone else. It's not. Other countries have a lot to offer, and you would be fascinated with the way some places operate. That's what makes the Olympics special, you can get a brief taste of how different people of different origins act in one place. Let's accept that and let it grow to every day of the year.

We as a people need to accept that other cultures are different than ours, and then break that down to our individual interactions every day. Someone might be different than you, but that doesn't mean their way of life is wrong, or that yours is right. It's just the way it is. Only God knows the right way to live, and the only person to completely live the right way to this point in time was really just His Son, Jesus.

A lot of people have it worse than you and me, so that doesn't mean we should rub it in their face and make fun of them for that. Why not help them? Why not become friends with that one person who rubbed you the wrong way just because of what they believed? The may be more like you than you think.

Some people might not like my hair, or the way I wear my jeans, or the way I practice my beliefs in my everyday life, but that doesn't mean they have to ignore me, or that I have to ignore them. It is a challenge, we all know this, but everyone lives their lives much differently from one another. It would be pretty boring if everyone did the same thing.

Picture yourself in some kind of social setting. Jokes and laughs are always plentiful...by all means have a fun time. Can't it get nasty sometimes though, maybe even offensive? Having fun at the expense of others is fun for everyone...except the person being offended. It might not seem like that big of a deal, and most of the time it's not. Those targeted may be feeling a touch of hurt deep down though.

For example, I get made fun of quite a bit...and somehow have earned the nickname "Grandpa". Nothing wrong with that. Grandpas are great. I could be called much worse things. If someone were to ever seclude me or keep me out of their group because of that though, that's a different story. It hasn't happened in my case, but all of the time good individuals are ostricized in their own group of friends just because they are different.

It's tempting to join in isn't it? We've all given in. If you want to look at the right way to do it, just look at this week's Gospel. Jesus is tempted three times by the devil, and never wavers. Try to be like Jesus and not even flinch. Recognize when the temptation is there. It's when something shouldn't feel quite right in your mind. Putting yourself out there when it's not exactly the most popular thing to do is truly living the way Jesus wanted us to live. His entire public work was based on that, and don't be worried about secluding yourself and losing friends. Look at Jesus, he had quite the following of apostles and disciples.

Most importantly, look inside yourself. This past weekend, I was in my home parish, St. James Church. Father Peter Worn spoke about us recognizing that we do need help. If we are arrogant, cocky, or overconfident about our ability to stand up to temptation, we won't do very well. We need God. He helps us stand up to anything that tempts us, and we need to recognize that he makes us that strong. We can't do it by ourselves.

Keep walking with God in this first full week of Lent. We aren't perfect, but by realizing our own weaknesses we will be able to appreciate everything that is different from our own way of living. God is always there, and will be with us through any of the bad temptations that breed from those differences. Do what makes you the happiest, but not at the expense of people you don't know quite enough about. Jesus stood up to all temptation, and He was a human just like us.

So, why can't we do it too?

Primetime

2010-02-15T11:58:00.000-08:00

This week we will welcome Lent, the holiest time of year. Are you ready? You don't really have to be...yet. Starting on Ash Wednesday, your next forty days and forty nights should be different than your last forty days and forty nights. Hopefully, over this time period, we will all change for the better and for good.

That's the thing about Lent. Often, people do what they can for forty days...and then go right back to their normal everyday lives. We can't just forget Lent on Easter morning. That's what makes Easter one of the highlights of the Church year. It's a good feeling on that day to know Jesus rose from the dead, isn't it? But we need every day of Lent to build up to Easter, and then remember that for the rest of the year.

So, thinking about how to properly do that...I remembered a piece of a homily that was given maybe a ten to fifteen years ago in my old church, St. Matthews in East Syracuse, NY. Monsignor Lavin, God rest his soul, was known for his repetition of words, and after all these years I remember one of his homilies distinctly. After all these years it's pretty impressive on both of our parts I must say. But anyways on that day he spoke about the little things in life, and I remember these words well...

"It's like a snowball...a snowball. Rolling down the mountain..."

You may not know, but all 50 states had some kind of snow sitting on the grass somewhere in the state a few days ago. I'm not trying to make any political global warming/climate change statements, but this reference should be pretty universal at this point in time. Anyways, a snowball gets bigger and bigger and moves faster and faster as it travels down the mountain....

...which translates to something that could be either really good, or something not so good. It is all based on the decisions you make in your life. Bad decisions can grow inside of people, and once they make one, it becomes a lot easier to justify and make another. This is how people's lives spiral out of control, and the only way of stopping that is either doing it themselves or getting hurt and hitting a brick wall. Kind of like the whole idea of what goes around comes around, but that's for another blog at another time. If you are trapped like that, what better time than Lent to make that one good decision that will turn your life around?

Many people are in that situation, where they simply can't get out of the rut they are in. They look for anything to justify what they are doing. But, other signs from God should tell them that they need to get out of that rut. I'm here to take a shot at translating those signs.

One slogan that puts decision making in a nut shell is: Sometimes you have to do something you don't want to do. I don't really know if I saw it on a bumper sticker, or if it just came to me through divine intervention, but it's stuck close to me in my life these past few years. Keep that in mind...

Rocky Balboa says, "Life ain't all sunshine and rainbows," which it's not. To come as close to being happy as possible, you have to make those little decisions that you really don't want to make. If your snowball isn't looking too good at this point, it might be time to make a decision that you don't really want to. You might not want to sign up for a certain tough course, or tell your family a difficult confession, or even eat a salad instead of a jelly donut. I'm sure everyone has or will have a situation like this facing them, and often the toughest decision to make is the right one. We rely on God to tell us whether or not it is right. If it is, life will turn around, if it's not, He will send us signs telling us to go in a different direction. Rest easy...we have more than one chance, as Jesus says to "...forgive seven times seventy..." That's a reassuring and relaxing thought.

That hope of having your life go in the best direction is right in front of you. God ensures you that it is never gone. Sometimes, one small, good decision can make a huge impact on the rest of your week, month, year, and even your life. It might be going to church more than once during the week, or choosing to call an old friend. I'm sure its happened before, but we tend not to think about as it is happening. Goodness is contagious, and by making one good decision, it's a lot easier to make another one, and then another one. It doesn't hurt that it puts you in the good Graces of God either. That's the snowball you are looking for.

To reference another movie, "Evan Almighty" actually has a pretty solid message throughout the film. It's a modern day story of Noah's Ark, and God, played by Morgan Freeman, reassures Noah(Steve Carell) that one simple act of random kindness at a time can change the world. Why not start that on Ash Wednesday? See someone walking and walk with them, or if you are driving give them a lift to their destination. Have an eye for human suffering and address it by talking to those who are hurting. Hold the door open, even if it means you are awkwardly standing there for more than two seconds. Compliments aren't bad either. I love it when people say, "Nice sweater." Well, in that instance, they may be making fun of me, but I'll take it as a compliment. Regardless, all of that means something. After forty days, those acts will be plentiful, and the surplus will spill over to everyone in the community around you. It will also spill over beyond Easter. The entire planet may not be changing, but by doing that in your own world you are starting somewhere.

So, set a precedent for yourself this Lent. Don't give just an hour a week to God, give two or three. Get involved in your Catholic Community. Everyone is busy, but you can't be too busy for God. He is never too busy for you. Kind of makes you think doesn't it? Maybe I'll touch on this again after Easter, but like I say above, one of the most important parts of Lent is to carry what you've built beyond that forty days, and to the rest of the days of your life as well.

And by thinking every day of how to make good decisions through small random acts of kindness, your good snowball may just turn into an avalanche.

Valentine's Day

2010-02-08T12:15:00.000-08:00

With Valentine's Day in less than a week, I think it's time to reflect a little bit on love. Some people hate the day, others love it. It's quite the polarizing holiday in our society. If you have a significant other I'm sure you enjoy getting the occasional Whitman's Sampler or diamond earrings. Those who have seen love through a different lens though, that of a broken heart, take a negative look on the day.

First off, the namesake of the day, Saint Valentine, had nothing to do with greeting cards or Cupid. He was a Christian martyr, obviously a great man. I'm sure many people didn't know that. But, as time goes on, things change, and now Valentine's Day is seen as a big money maker for the greeting card industry (See Hallmark).

Props to Saint Valentine, we should all follow his example in unending love for God. But I want to talk about our love for each other, and analyze what the Bible says about it. Those without a love life at this time, stay with me. This passage is from Corinthians 13, and is often recited at Weddings. Read it slowly.

"3If I give away everything I own, and if I hand my body over so that I may boast but do not have love, I gain nothing. 4Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, it is not pompous, it is not inflated, 5it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick tempered, it does not brood over injury, 6it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. 7It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8Love never fails...13So faith, hope, love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love."

For those who are heartbroken, you probably want to click to another website. But wait one second. It was Jesus who said "Love thy neighbor" right? Pretty sure he knew what he was talking about. Let's look at it deeper. Read it again, then look below.

...Love is patient, love is kind...

It's hard to be patient isn't it? I struggle with patience every day. It is easy to get annoyed with your friends and family. But the Bible says if you love them, you understand them, and won't jump and bite their head off. We have all done it. So, take an extra couple seconds next time you feel yourself getting impatient. It's hard, but just do it and see what happens.

...It is not jealous, it is not pompous...

Think of the last time you got jealous of your boyfriend/girlfriend when they talking to someone of the opposite sex or even just hanging out with their own friends. Well, I'm sorry, but you aren't supposed to feel that envy. Human nature tells us that we should be the only ones in their life, but isn't that a bit pompous? So, why not try living out of the box, and appreciating their ability to have friends and get along with a lot of people. You might just happen to get along with them too.

...it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth...

We've all done it. Fight with someone for absolutely no reason. I've had conversations with people who say they actually like it sometimes, I guess it gives them something to do. Try going on a walk or sharing a funny story instead. Truth is important too. Half-truths kill relationships. Loving each other means you shouldn't be scared to tell the truth. Sometimes it is the hardest part, but it will cause much less worry in the end.

...it endures all things. Love never fails...

God will never stop loving us. We know this. The full passage above tells us just how good God's love is. What about loving one another? If things fall through with an individual, was that really love? Above the Bible says love never fails, but I'm sure some people have felt that love has failed them. God doesn't fail though. He knows what kind of love is right for each and every one of us, and quite honestly we don't know what we want for the majority of our lives. Listen to Him trust me.

So, instead of forcing something that isn't quite there, take a step back. Don't get me wrong, if you feel like it is right with that person of your dreams go on and go for it. Do what makes you happy. But, if it doesn't work out after some futile tries, trust in God. It will work out. It might not be what you wanted at that point in time, but you'll thank Him down the road.

This coming Sunday, you might be happy, and you might be sad, but if you can, try as hard as you can to keep this bible passage in the back of your mind. It can apply to both your love for others, and God's love for you.

As I write this, I'm single. I probably haven't followed those guidelines that well either. I know I'm not perfect. But by surrounding myself with friends and family who do care about me, Valentine's Day will turn from a day of focusing on loving just one person to a day of remembering all of those people who truly do care for me.

By following this path, you too might realize that love is more than a "Fax Me" on a conversation heart.

Putting the Community back in Catholic Community

2010-02-01T12:04:00.000-08:00

Think about every person you walked by today on your way to work, class, or even to get a cup of coffee. There are a few things happening in that brief moment of your day.

Scenario #1: You glance at who it is quickly, to make sure you don't know them, and look away just as fast. You may pretend to check the time, look for something in your bag, fake a phone call, or all of a sudden realize how blue the sky can be...

Scenario #2: You stare. Possibly making eye contact, but fail to smile or even speak to the innocent bystander. They then walk by you, maybe even causing you to turn your head...

Scenario #3: You don't care who it is, and you look at them until they make eye contact. You greet that brief second with a smile and maybe a simple hello...

We all fall into the first two examples above time and time again. It is just something about human nature these days that zips our lips when confronted with another human. Sure, you might be shy. Nothing wrong with that. But what makes you feel better personally, a smile or a glare? Even in a bad mood, it might be worth making that effort at showing just a little grin, it might make you feel better.

This comes to mind on the heels of a reflection that Ithaca junior Samantha Wolfe gave at Muller Chapel on Sunday. She spoke about her experience working at Nazareth Farm over the winter recess. Nazareth Farm is a Catholic community in West Virginia that is kind of like a service/retreat opportunity for all kinds of people. Those that attend help with housing repair in the area.

Samantha emphasized very eloquently the simple idea of being a part of community while down there. She didn't know many people, but that didn't matter. At Nazareth Farm, being alive was basically a celebration. That's missing in the rest of society today.

Why not try Scenario #3 up above in your own travels? Every person has their own individual community. It's up to you make that community a healthy or depressing one. As Samantha pointed out, walking around with headphones blaring in your ears doesn't help...and yeah if you can't tell that's a pet peeve of mine too. You might find a friend or just a person to talk to along the way.

I never thought I would, but I actually did this the other day without even thinking about it. I had a good 20 minutes in between two classes, so I grabbed a yogurt parfait...don't ask why...and looked for somewhere to just sit and eat it. My first instinct was to find a comfortable chair so I could enjoy it alone. But, alas, every place to relax was taken. So, considering she was on a seat big enough for two people, I asked a girl on her laptop if I could sit next to her. Now, it's not what you think, I wasn't looking for a date or even a phone number. Though I was intensely focused on the oats in my yogurt, this girl started asking me about my day. A conversation ensued, and when the time came for class to start...I was in a better mood. I hope she was too. I asked her for just her name as I was leaving, and to be honest...I forgot it.

I think God was telling me that this was one of those times where names didn't matter, just being able to talk to someone I didn't know made all the difference. Think of how much more pleasant your life could be by recognizing those people around you as those filled with the Grace of God. By talking to them, you learn not only more about them, but yourself as well.

Now, I might not see that girl again, but I can still have a random conversation like that again. I know it's cliche, but it helps. Think about every person you've met. They all have an interesting story to tell.

It might start with that simple smile, or gesture of hello. By staying involved in the community around you, your outlook on life might get a bit more positive. Your life might not be the greatest at the time, but why not get excited for others in their successes?

That celebration of life is something you don't get by pretending to check the time.

A new decade...the same blog

2010-01-27T12:40:00.000-08:00

Don't get bored by the title, this year should be filled with more exciting and insightful readings, news and sports, so that should make these posts extra special. I'm now in off-season football mode, so look forward to more posts. Check back every Monday, and you'll find a brand new take on life to get you through the week. Lent is coming soon, so get ready to rock and roll. Don't forget...if you want to reach me directly my email address is teschen1@ithaca.edu.

The Off-Season

2009-12-09T08:04:00.000-08:00

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.

Busy Day...

2009-12-08T06:54:00.000-08:00

Tough day for this one...two tests this afternoon. So I will be back with a new post tomorrow, see you then.

Happy Advent

2009-12-02T08:38:00.000-08:00

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.

Thank you CELEBS

2009-11-17T06:56:00.000-08:00

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.

Win at everything you do

2009-11-10T06:59:00.000-08:00

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."

Saint Thomas of Cazenovia

2009-11-04T08:09:00.000-08:00

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?

Some more research...

2009-11-03T06:58:00.000-08:00

I'm looking up some information for my next post...check back tomorrow for a new one.......

What do you want me to do for you?

2009-10-27T06:43:00.000-07:00

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.

If you ain't first, you're last

2009-10-20T07:04:00.000-07:00

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...

Having a Day

2009-10-13T06:44:00.000-07:00

"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.

This isn't Taylor Swift, but it is a love story

2009-10-06T06:44:00.000-07:00

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.

Opening Kickoff

2009-10-01T07:35:00.000-07:00

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...

Guatemala Trip!

2009-06-10T06:20:00.000-07:00

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:

Molly's Pics

Kristyne's Pics:

Break Out The Madness!

Break Out The Madness!: 35mm Version

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.

-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.

End-of-the-Year Picnic

2009-05-04T08:28:00.000-07:00

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

Relay for Life 2009

2009-03-31T07:16:00.000-07:00

Pictures from RELAY!

Nazareth Farm Trip

2009-01-20T11:57:00.000-08:00

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 to West Virginia. Lee was kind enough to take a group of seven of us IC students down to a place called Nazareth Farm in Doddridge County. Naz Farm is a non-profit Catholic home repair organization that operates based upon four major cornerstones: prayer, community, service and simplicity. Under the direction of the staff at the farm, volunteers are presented with the opportunity to assist in bettering the living conditions of many residents of Doddridge County, a region in Appalachia that unfortunately suffers from some economic hardships.

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 West Virginia. I decided to follow my original gut instinct that this experience could be a good one.

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 West Virginia expecting to help and heal others, but it turns out that I was helped, I was healed.

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