Magis: Kingdom of Love

A year ago this time and for the next four days, I had the incredible opportunity to go on a retreat called Magis, which is Latin for "more." I not only got to experience the retreat with a number of my fellow classmates, but I was privileged to be on the team of ten people who led all the retreaters on St. Ignatius' Spiritual Exercises. The whole Magis retreat is based on these exercises that are a large part of Jesuit Catholic tradition. Despite the fact that I'm not a Catholic, I gained a different perspective of how to examine one's spiritual life by dedicating six months of my senior year in preparation for this retreat.

By the time the retreat came, I was ready. Each team member had a specific exercise to focus on. Throughout the four days, we all shared our personal stories and lives with our class. After each talk we had 45 minutes of silent time and then a small group discussion time. The 45 minutes of silent time over the days got less and less silent; I found that chatting with a fellow classmate about it seemed more beneficial. I also found that when you study God's word together with someone, you grow very deep very quickly. Although my small group was diverse, I appreciated their openness that eventually came after meeting the first couple times. As much as I was a leader, I also got to experience the retreat, too, as a retreater.

The collaboration of digging deep with the small group and digging even deeper during the so called 'silent time' resulted in a very overwhelming experience. I had never examined my relationship with Christ so intentionally. I definitely found the 'Magis' in my life -- I was encouraged and disciplined more than ever in regards to the examination of my own spiritual journey. I learned how to carry on that search for solidifying that deeper person in me. I am forever thankful for this amazing experience.

And now, Team Magis 2010 will embark on their journey this afternoon, and all the retreaters will follow this evening and be engulfed in a environment where they can take four days to dig deep and create healthy conversation about things that matter the most. I want to keep the team and all the retreaters in my prayers and thoughts for their experience, that they may be open and have the comfort of sharing and supporting each other as they retreat together.

"...do something for others"

I am brought to tears as I scroll through the photo gallery of the disastrous conditions in Haiti provided by the NY Times. Witnessing this devastation through photos is the closest link I can have in order to get a glimpse of what's going on down there -- copious amounts of rubble from the buildings, piles of waste to add to that, a desolate place barely livable before the earthquake and even worse after the fact.

"We must learn that there is nothing greater than to do something for others," Martin Luther King, Jr. said in one of his sermons. This is being lived out as Belgian emergency workers, Russian rescue workers, French rescue workers, and American troops team up to provide aid and help to these Hatian people who have nothing left. I am so thankful for all those involved in contributing in some way to providing relief.

I especially feel for a fellow floor mate here at school -- her family is from Haiti. Due to the disconnection and complete isolation that Haiti has during these times, she still has yet to hear if here mother has survived the quake. Not knowing if my family is alive or not would be unbearable and I cannot even begin to imagine how that feels. My heart goes out to her and her family.

Viewing these photos make me realize how fortunate I am and make me want to extend a reaching hand to those who are barely hanging on. In order to do such, the most helpful thing I can do is pray. Pray for those who are providing aid, that they are filled with God's strength. Pray for those Hatians, that they are comforted in knowing that God's love is unfailing and that He will provide. Pray for those who have family in Haiti, that they may trust in the Lord that everything will be okay.

Dadversations

Good conversation is one of my favorite things in the world.

Good conversations with my dad are even better.

The prime place for our conversations happen in the study. I'll come into to grab something, say 'hi' to my dad, and end up sitting down. Soon thereafter, I am caught up in wonderful conversation.

Being away at college has helped me learn to appreciate my parents even more. Whether it be a random text saying I'm a cute chinchilla or a crazy message from him saying as little as "I love you" makes me so happy and thankful for such a strong, inspirational man in my life.

One thing that I love about my dad is that from the minute he sees my face, he can tell how I'm doing. I can attribute parts of my enthusiasm and energy in life to my dad's excited personality that he has shown me. Having the opportunity to sit down and chat with him about anything - my friends, my struggles, my challenges, my goals - is such a blessing and so special.

Thank you, Dad, for making me laugh and smile, for encouraging me to share my gifts to better glorify God, for loving me unconditionally, and for teaching me how to be a better person.

Pay It Forward

I couldn't help but squealing while I skipped out of the door of MacKenzie River Pizza, Co. tonight after a nice family dinner.

Tonight I received my favorite Christmas present -- paying it forward. This year, though, it was a little different. Minutes after sitting down, close family friends walked in, who we had seen just the night before. They immediately became a candidate for our treat. Soon thereafter, friends of JoAnne's from work this past summer strolled by; they became our second candidate. As our family discussion of who we might treat continued, Brett nonchalantly scanned the restaurant for additional candidates. From the family vote, we decided upon JoAnne's co-workers - the couple and their two friends.

But here's the catch (and my favorite part). Dad says to the waiter: "We would like to pay for a table of four's dinner tonight. Is there anyway we could get their ticket?" The waiter looked at us with much confusion and responded with a reluctant, "Yeah, okay.....let me go get their waiter." Their waitress approached our table and gave us their bill. My dad continued, "Just let them know their dinner has been taken care of, but don't let them know that it was us. And tell them 'Happy New Year!' and that's all." Unanimously. On our way out, I glanced over to their table and saw them enjoying their company and each other, knowing that they would soon be surprised to discover their bill had been taken care of.

These kinds of gifts are so much more self-fulfilling because the gift of giving, I've found, is so much more joyous. And what's cool about paying it forward is that possibly it might spark a gift of giving in that person who received that gift in the first place; that's where it becomes changing to more than just one person, or more than one table at a restaurant.

So next time you're in the drive-thru line at Starbucks, surprise someone. Pay for the person behind you. It's a good feeling. :)