Up before the sunrise

What I love about getting up early in the morning: I'm ready for the day, I get a bunch done (such as sending out two transcripts and figuring out that crazy maze called registration), I get my fix of coffee

What I find not so great about the morning: less sleep, my mind races from one thing to the next as far as what I need to get completed for the morning (alright, so that might be a side effect of the coffee...), I'm a little more loopy than usual

I was glad, however, that 6:15 didn't come too rough this time around. It's been a while since I've experienced that hour of the day. Why 6:15? Occupy Rockhurst is now underway. There's a group getting ready to set hearts on fire for Jesus on campus. Pray for us as we continue to discern how to continue to evangelize here!

The Christopher West event was great! Saw some familiar faces, got to pray for those attending during Adoration, and I think one of the best parts was the band. Mike Mangione and the Union is a rock/indie band that bases their lyrics in Theology of the Body. Completely touching. Here's a sample: Woman in Gown

Alright, time for some piano!!

Daily Gospel VII: Luke 14: 1, 7-11

This is a Gospel story that is powerful when it is lived out (all of them are, of course, but this one is super powerful when applied, in my own opinion). Especially around the holiday season, people like to hear stories about people lowering themselves to help others and success stories of the poor getting the assistance they need and being raised out of their situation. I think this reflects a deep desire in ourselves for justice. We don't want to have those of higher status to be lowered just to get back at them for the wealth that they have received in life; we want them to experience compassion and living for somebody outside of themselves. Similarly, we don't want to raise someone of a lower status just to be nice and condescending; we truly want them to experience the dignity that they deserve as human beings.

I think this is a great Gospel message to carry with us into the holiday season. Give thanks, don't be afraid of blessings, but also try extra to live for others and spread true Love. Peace to you!

All Things Work for Good For Those that Love the Lord

Well, I'm actually going to make this post a short blurb, because, typical crazy week, I'm going to go plan Adoration, eat with the housemates, and then head back to Wichita for less than 24 hours.

This weekend I'm thrilled to be volunteering at the Fill These Hearts tour in Overland Park. This kind of fell in my lap, but basically I've committed to a 15-minute Adoration time during the speaking, and in return we get our admission and back-stage pass paid for. I know, right?! Two of Cathy's sisters are also coming in for the tour, as well as a couple friends from back home, so I'm excited for a fun weekend of homework and meeting Christopher West again.

I don't think I've said explicitly on the blog yet, but I was blessed with a job recently! I'm now a seasonal sales associate for Pottery Barn Kids. I'm pretty nervous about going into retail not really knowing how to do anything, but I think I'm fairly adept at learning random jobs by now, and it will be a good resume builder.

The latest development at our house is our new prayer room. We've had it as an idea for the house since our friends had a small one in their house last year, and Emily really put most of it together. It's simple just some inspirational verses and quotes on the walls, a few statues, and a small bookcase, but I'm very fond of it.

Alright, gotta run, readers! Peace to you!

A Shout-Out to Friends in the Nest

For reminding me that taking time off from busy work can be rewarding...

For helping me to appreciate the little things...

For getting me hooked on old TV shows...

For breaking into song at exactly the right moment...

For getting excited about random-osities (such as cookie dough or dinners together)...

For sharing what happened in each others' days...

For patience when I don't wash dishes right away...

For well-coordinated laughter...

For music streaming from two or three different rooms...

For our now decorated dining room wall, soon to be completed by our Nest photo (thank you Alzbeta Volk for the wonderful photos!!!)...

For the good and rough times we've had, and the times to come...

...Thank You :-)

I Will Still Love You

"I will still love You, Lord." I find myself trying to pray this more and more. I will still love God...even if He doesn't make out a straight path for my job search. Even if I don't get a job. Even if all my insecurities and fears are not immediately relieved. "I will still love You, Lord."

Fall break went well, I mostly stayed home and worked on homework except for one day in Wichita with my mom and dad and going to a bonfire that the WSU Newman Center hosted that same night. I enjoy fairly low-key breaks, and this hit the spot.

This week is Respect Life Week at Rockhurst, so the activities are going on for that. I had the blessing of meeting a transfer student today who's been involved in pro-life activities before, and getting to hear her story was truly awesome.

Alright, back to focusing it is :-) Peace and blessings be with you.

Quote of the Day XVIII

"Truth must be sought at all costs, but separate isolated truths will not do. Truth is like life; it has to be taken on its entirety or not at all. . . . We must welcome truth even if it reproaches and inconveniences us -- even if it appears in the place where we thought it could not be found."--Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen

'Tis the season...of autumn!!!

Fall break is upon us! I'm immensely excited to go home. I don't even have anything planned, it's great! I should hopefully be heading out on Wednesday morning.

First things first, though... 2 midterms! Actually, I'm pretty prepared for my French exam, and have been working on preparing my essays for John: Gospel and Epistles. I usually am a last-minute studier (border-line crammer), so this is a little out of the ordinary for me. This weekend has been the perfect balance of studying and relaxing. Emily is even making a baseball fan out of me. I've never kept up with baseball before, but now that the Cardinals are in the play-offs, the games are being watched with great intensity at the Nest. The couch in the living room by the TV has quickly become my study area while the games are going on.

" I know indeed how to live in humble circumstances; I know also how to live with abundance. In every circumstance and in all things I have learned the secret of being well fed and of going hungry, of living in abundance and of being in need. I have the strength for everything through him who empowers me."--2nd reading at Mass...definitely powerful and provocative for me tonight.

Daily Gospel VI: Luke 11:5-13

Confession of the day: I would not open my door in the middle of the night if you knock asking me for bread. I will be dead to the world, unless you truly knock hard enough...

Alright, glad I got that out of the way. Phew. Don't judge.

I really like to relate this story to praying the Rosary or Divine Mercy Chaplet. And each one of the prayers in each decade is a knock on the door. I mean, really, if you're knocking THAT many times, I'm pretty sure the point of your petition is going to get across! For real, I would even wake up if somebody pounded on my door 50+ times. It's easy to find it monotonous or tiring to knock on Heaven's door that often, but: "Blessed be that monotony of Hail Mary's which purifies the monotony of your sins!"--St. Josemaria Escriva

So go ahead. Knock on Heaven's door. Ask and pray to God for your intentions. Even if it gets repetitive, get the point across to Him! Your prayer will reflect the desires of your heart.

Peace

Just as love is knowing, peace is revealing.

This God-inspired meditation came to me recently when I was complaining to Him. At some point I told Him that all I wanted was peace. That was only part way true. What I was really saying was that I wanted complacency. I just had not put it in those words. God flipped the tables and put it in just those terms, though. Peace is one of those theological terms that somehow proves hazy and distant to me most of the time. I hear about it, I can sense it, but I cannot quite understand it. However, I am pretty sure that I am not the only one out there who doesn't grasp everything. Most of the time, whenever I read New Testament portions where the disciples seem to keep questioning Jesus on the same subject, no matter what spin He puts on the point He's getting across, I COMPLETELY relate to them. Really, Jesus probably has to say something to me about 20+ different ways before I get it. I probably sound like a broken record to Him..."What do You mean?" "Why don't You make sense?"...you get the picture.

I am coming to more of a concrete realization, though, of what peace is not. I think that's a step in the right direction. Peace is not complacency. Just as love is not "blind", as poets like to pretend. The Bible is awesome in talking about love as "knowing". Love does not (should not) cause one to hide away faults. Love is knowing and healing faults...Jesus does not love us in spite of our humanity, but because of it. Similarly, peace does not turn a blind eye to violence, war, wrong-doings. It reveals the brokenness, meets it right where it is, and heals exactly there. We as Christians, as peace-makers to the world, are never called to pretend that the world is anything but hurting. Peace brings Christ right to the ache.

Today, allow the peace of Christ to enter your life in a radical way. Lay it all before Him and see what He has in store.