Time Management 101

168.

That is an important number. Why? That is the number of hours you have this week to make the most of your time.

What is most important to you? With what do you spend most of your time? If the answer to these two questions isn't even comparatively similar, something is awry.

I just attended a talk this evening given by a very contemplative man, Mr. Harry Kraemer Jr. The topic was titled "Being Catholic in the Corporate World: Becoming a Values-Based Leader." However, I feel that the talk could've been more appropriately titled, "Values-Based Time Management 101." Mr. Kraemer held great passion behind everything he said and was incredibly engaging. He highlighted several things that must be taken into account when living a life comprised of so many factors. The key elements he pointed out that are necessary to live a successful life -- successful, that is, by one's own standards, not standards of others -- are as follows:

• Self-Reflection
• Balance
• True Self-Confidence
• Humility

I think the most thought-provoking thing he said was this: “If you’re not self-reflective, do you really know yourself? If not, then can you lead yourself? And if you can’t lead yourself, then how can you lead other people?”

This talk has given me a lot of things to reflect on and think about. Where DO I spend my time? When a day "flies by," what is that supposed to mean? It's easy to lose track of time when you're doing things that have no possible time-measurement. Good examples of these are TV, the internet, etc. Sometimes time can fly by and it's perfectly OK. However, we need to be watchful of where the majority of our time is being spent. I know that I am guilty of spending my time in areas of little significance. I don't always prioritize and I am aware that I need to work on that.

Another good example Mr. Kraemer mentioned is keeping track of where we place others on our "priority list." If you lose track of how many times someone who is important to you asks to spend some time together... that person may stop asking. You must reflect on the times you have felt the need to turn someone away or deny them your time. Was it really for something that took priority over that person or was it just inconveniencing you? I am by no means admitting that I am immune to doing this. In fact, I am sad to say -- upon reflection, I have done this many times.

Another thought from tonight that is worth contemplating is one that I will leave you with. Take the time to reflect and grow in evaluating where your time is spent. Mr. Kraemer put it very well:

"So many of us confuse activity with productivity -- are we truly being productive, or just active?"

God's Ever-Astounding Plan

God never fails to baffle me with his magnificent plan for my life. I can confidently admit that even the most difficult and trying times of the last few months have fallen into place with God's carefully articulated plan. As I go through all the struggles I have endured, I realize why each challenge was necessary and sit in amazement.

I think I can start with my very first few weeks in Chicago. My path to attain a Chicago Plus Card was one of the most grueling processes ever... I felt like I was being put to the ultimate test of patience. I won't bore you with all the details. Let's just say that after 2 weeks of having my card first stolen, failure to send a replacement, poor customer service, and delay upon delay -- I had finally become the owner of a Chicago Plus Card. Oh joy and joyness.

What I failed to even contemplate is that it was possible that something good was to come out of this experience. Thanks to the 2-week delay, I did in fact save money; as I am about to start a new job in 3 weeks, my monthly pass will end right on time. Praise God.

The second, seemingly never-ending, challenge I was faced with was finding somewhere to live after the end of my current sublease. This has a whole slew of problems and struggles attached. I first tried finding a full lease with a roommate -- that failed for several reasons and was the most trying of the struggles due to these issues that I won't go into. I then tried finding another sublease but was incredibly hesitant to sign any of the ones I found -- for reasons I later discovered...

This lesson was even more important than the first. I learned that God allowed me to go through these weeks of stress and some tears to discover what I needed to do. TRUST HIM. I thought I was trusting what God wanted me to do, but no, I had barely begun. Once I said I give up on forcing my plan into God's plan, everything fell together. If you have you ever heard the quote, "Want to make God laugh? Tell Him your plans," then you understand how I am feeling now. It is also incredibly true that hindsight is 20/20. When you look back on what has happened, you begin to understand why. It may never be crystal clear, but it usually makes more sense than it did at the time. Another aspect of this particular lesson was learning what to look for and what not to look for in an apartment in a big city. This lesson is so incredibly valuable... as I move to another big city and find a place to live in a mere 3 weeks!

Life has become a fast-paced roller-coaster; but, I'm ready with God's grace as my seatbelt securing me for the ride.

Rediscovering Beauty

I meant to write on this topic a long time ago and am hoping I remember all that I wanted to say... so, I may come back to it for further editing.

I've come to rediscover that everything has an innate beauty. This is a fact that I have been subconsciously aware of, but never truly thought about much. The more you look at something and concentrate on it-- the more you are able to realize the essence of beauty that it holds. Some beauty is more hidden and some is thrown in your face.

The root of all beauty is in God. The intention of true beauty is to call us closer to God Himself and permit growth in relationship with Him. There is a reason we strive to make ourselves and things around us visually appealing. We want to draw people in. Beauty is inviting and causes almost immediate interest. Why do you think there are industries dedicated to decor, fashion, architecture, art, music, design, etc... ?

What I'm getting at here is this. Striving to bring beauty into our lives and others' is incredibly important. Dullness should be avoided and driven away. We all know this at our core, and do indeed strive for it, but may not realize that we are doing it. However, something even more important than striving for beauty, is recognizing it. We need to appreciate it in our daily lives and realize that its foundation lies in God.

When I started thinking about this idea, I was sitting in the middle of downtown Chicago on the train. I began noticing the architecture, the design of the city, the people, the (seldom) nature... I became fascinated and in awe of the gifts God has given us to appreciate.

After noticing the beauty surrounding me, I started thinking about the fact that I, myself, was created in the image and likeness of God -- as are all my brothers and sisters in Christ. I have heard this fact countless times. But, when rediscovering something so incomprehensible... it's somewhat overwhelming. This made me consider how I and others try to capture that beauty in the manner of how we present ourselves. Am I living up to the expectations God has for me? Am I helping others to do the same? Do I embrace the beauty in others and truly recognize it? I could go on for hours with the thoughts that go along with this. I think I have to blame Mr. G.K. Chesterton for this one... he brought me back in touch with my love of philosophy. :)

Freedom

Ronald Reagan is one of my favorite presidents. He speaks an excellent point on the topic of freedom:

"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free."

As does the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI:

"True freedom blossoms when we turn away from the burden of sin, which clouds our perceptions and weakens our resolve, and find the source of our ultimate happiness in him who is infinite love, infinite freedom, infinite life."

It seems that much of our nation has forgotten what it means to have what we call freedom. Freedom is more than the ability to "do whatever you want." It is the ability to exercise the capacity to freely choose good. The Holy Father could not have spoken truer words. Sin is binding. The devil uses sin to cloud our minds and negatively influence our decisions.

You are never truly free until you detach yourself from the burden of sin. Think about it. If you think you are free but are unable to say no, is that freedom? This extends far beyond just sin. Are we free in America? Will it soon be illegal to not have healthcare? Is it illegal to take out student loans with anyone but the government?

Our freedom in America is slowly dying. I plan to help stop that from continuing. I love my country and on the day of its birth, I pledge to do whatever I can to preserve what this country was built on. I pledge to bring back the constitution and the principles our founding fathers believed in.

AND

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

And furthermore, I would like to share with you the end of the Declaration of Independence -- the document that was signed by 56 people 234 years ago:

"We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor."

We should all take the time to read over the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States on this day of our country's birth. We need to be reminded of what the flag stands for, what so many people have fought to defend and for what so many lives have been lost.

On this day, I am happy to live in the land of the free and the home of the brave. I am PROUD to be an AMERICAN.

"Hooked on a Failing"

I've been reading Scott Hahn's "The Lamb's Supper." I think I'll have to read it at least one more time to truly take in all that it has to offer. I've gone over six months without some kind of course in philosophy, so this book is rejuvenating.

The section that really caught my eye and got me thinking is about 3/4 into the book. The sub-section is titled "Hooked on a Failing." It discusses humankind's failure to fully recognize sin for what it is.

Hahn depicts the process of sin, "We have an obligation, first, to resist temptation. If we fail then and we sin, we have an obligation to repent immediately. If we do not repent, then God lets us have our way: He allows us to experience the natural consequences of our sins, the illicit pleasures. If we still fail to repent--through self-denial and acts of penance--God allows us to continue to sin, thereby forming a habit, a vice, which darkens our intellect and weakens our will."

WHOA! I think I have re-read this paragraph at least 3 times. There is SO much truth here. Following this section, Hahn further explains how the most merciful thing God can do for us once we have formed a habit or a vice is allow a 'calamity' to occur:

"Sometimes, disaster means that that the world the sinners knew must fade away. But, as Jesus said, "What does it profit a man, to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?" (Mk 8:36). It's better to bid farewell to a world of sin than to be lost without hope of repentance."

This is certainly a lot to take in and divulge. Hahn has a brilliant way of laying it out that forces you to think about how it relates to your life. Reflecting on this is helping me to understand a little more about those who have fallen away from the faith. God does not cause these people to step away from Him. Every choice in life can bring you closer or further away from God. The more steps you take away from God, the easier it becomes to sin. Therefore, it is logical to comprehend why some people appear to sin so easily, while for others-- the same sin would give them tremendous pause. God's grace inhabits your very being and influences your daily decisions-- but ONLY if you let Him. This explains so much for me personally on why at certain points in my life, I had incredible difficulty with sin... it had everything to do with me being distant from God. It is so clear now in retrospect. God normally prefers the 2x4 effect with me, but this time, I think it was a lesson that needed to be learned gradually. :)

Discoveries

As I have taken more steps towards (what I feel) is my true purpose in life, I have discovered a great deal. I have learned on a deeper level what it takes to truly stand for something. Even as little as 3 weeks ago, I may not have found certain things in the political arena to be of high importance. However, now that I am fully living out my faith and beliefs- I have gained a greater understanding of what it means to do so. It is certainly not easy, but completely worth it.

Something else I have come to realize is quite scary. I have become aware of just how much the sacredness of God and the Holy Catholic Church have come under full attack. Never before has it been even remotely possible for such an extreme amount of blasphemes to be said in public. There are books, movies, TV shows, radio broadcasts, newspaper articles.... just about any form of public communication has partaken in some form of attack. Not all have been obvious or incredibly harmful. But, every attack makes way for another. One example that was brought to my attention is a new show coming out on Comedy Central. I don't know a lot about it, but from what I'm told-- it depicts Jesus as someone who is trying to break away from his "powerful but apathetic" father and winds up "finding himself" in New York. I really think that there is a difference between a good joke and an all-out mockery. I can laugh at jokes about my religion, but this show is way over the line.

Along the same lines of "blaspheming"-- I have come upon many organizations that pretend to be something they aren't. They try to represent something that is clearly-defined on its own... while making their own revisions. No matter what idea, religion or organization we are talking about, this is deception. If you don't understand something, go to the original source and discover its truth. For EXAMPLE... if you're going to run a "Catholic" organization, you better be ready to refer to the Bible, the Catechism and the hierarchy of the church for reference. I will admit that many people who run these organizations could be severely misguided under no fault of their own. As Catholics, it is our responsibility to show others the Truth. I know I am by nature a seeker of Truth. I think all humans have that natural inclination. Otherwise, we would all be completely disordered.

Lastly, my final thought for today-- logic and reason could save you and others from a lot of aggravation. I have been asked why I am Catholic. My constant reply will always be along the lines of this: I can find nothing more logically sound and filled with reason. Every question I have can be directed through prayer, logical reasoning and reference. If there is anything I have discovered about the Catholic faith, it's that if you are seeking Truth, you will find it in the Catholic Church. I do not mean this as an attack on those who are not Catholic-- I am only stating why I believe what I do. As my life goes through countless changes, I know that the only change within my faith will be an increase in strength.

God's Timing

It's truly incredible when you think about it. Sometimes it is difficult to have faith that everything will work out. But, if you open your heart to listen... God WILL speak to you.

I have had a significant amount of free time these past few days. It has given me time to relax, take pleasure in reading, watching movies, playing games and praying. Prayer is something that has become so central in my life. Ever since I started focusing more on prayer life, things really began to fall together... and at those times when I need it the most-- God brings me back and gives me the nourishment my spirit was thirsting for.

Today was a great example of this. I was praying evening prayer, and the reading could not have been more appropriate for me to hear at this point in my life. It is as follows:

Colossians 1:9b-11
"May you attain full knowledge of God's will through perfect wisdom and spiritual insight. Then you will lead a life worthy of the Lord and pleasing to him in every way. You will multiply good works of every sort and grow in the knowledge of God. By the might of his glory you will be endowed with the strength needed to stand fast, even to endure joyfully whatever may come."

God is AMAZING, isn't He?! I have just graduated from college, have moved to a new city and am about to start a new job... what better time than NOW to hear this passage?! God has given me SO much reassurance right when it is most needed. Any question or doubt that I am on the right path has been tossed out the window. I feel like my spiritual armor is on and I am ready to go out and fight the good fight. Ready or not, here I come!

Life, Love and Acceptance

It seems that when big things happen in my life, I am sure to become reflective. I begin to wonder how some of these things came to happen in my life and what could possibly come next.

My life has always been a series of roller-coasters. Some are fun and some make me throw up in the end. But, they all have varieties of twists, turns, loops and most have a very specific end. Some, however, take you in circles with (seemingly) no end in sight.

So many times in my life, I have been ungrateful for the blessings that have been bestowed on me. These times incur most often when I am blind to what I have been blessed with. It certainly seems to be an easy trap to fall into.

In the past several years of my life, I have learned what the concept of true love could be; though not in the sense that most people take it. I have endured the loss of a loved one. I have had my faith tried in trust, understanding and hope. I have given up on things that... I always thought I could accomplish.

However...

Through these trials and failures, I have learned a great deal. When I despaired, God gave me a reason to regain hope. When I became impatient for one thing, God surprised me with an even better plan than the first. When I thought trust was lost, truth brought about justice.

I realize that much of this is abstract. It is difficult to narrow down how God has worked in my life. The best way I can describe my experience is to sum it up with these words: my journey through life has, thus far, given me a chance to acquire the patience necessary to recognize God's loving will, and embrace it with a trusting acceptance that reaches beyond anything I could have imagined.

Contemplations

I started going through really old emails today- this got me thinking about how much I have changed in the last 5 years. I could hardly believe how different I was such a short time ago. It's amazing how fast people can grow up... My perspective, outlook and priorities have become so different than they were back then.

I used to be preoccupied with being 'liked'... now, I would rather be respected. I used to think I needed attention from guys... now, I am confident in who I am. I used to avoid confrontation like the plague... now, I am ready to face what is to come. I used to be obsessed with perfection in school... now, hahahah... uhm, I'm not. :) I used to sacrifice sleep consistently for school- I now realize sleep is far more valuable to stay sane and healthy. I used to stay only in my comfort zone within a specific social realm of people- now, I have knocked that wall down and opened up a bit. I was never much of a risk taker... now, I have taken leaps of faith that I never would've fathomed. (Like planning to go on World Youth Day in Australia by fund raising... haha) I have realized that completely laying your heart on the line is not always a good idea. I have learned that things may not go your way, but that doesn't mean they're not headed in the right direction. I have discovered that when you are standing for something that matters, life has a heck of a lot more meaning. Small losses don't even compete with the satisfying gains of self-fulfillment. These things are only the start of where my mind travelled today...

It's not over

After the initial shock of the passage of the healthcare bill, I tried to think logically and reasonably. Yes, I was still unbelievably upset and disappointed... however, what good does it do to merely be upset- that only makes it seem that nothing can be done.

Something CAN be done. Does anyone know what happens in November 2010? Yep, all the congressmen who voted in favor of this bill better be ready to face the consequences of their actions. The majority of the American people did NOT support this bill being passed. What is the job of our *REPRESENTATIVES* in Congress??? To *REPRESENT* the American majority. It seems to me, that is failing to happen.

Secondly, this bill is not set to go into effect until 2013. What does this mean? The next presidential election is also pivotal. The bill could likely be overturned if Republicans take back the House and a solid candidate is elected president. This could be a long shot... but, if the American people truly read up on what is actually in the bill- there could be more of a revolt than expected.

I would love the chance to understand what is going through the heads of political leaders. What happened to the America I know and love? What happened to a country built on freedoms of LIFE, LIBERTY and the PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS?? There are a few things that I carry around with me on a daily basis- among those things is a pocket Constitution and Declaration of Independence.

The Declaration of Independence states: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."

I wrote something on this a while ago and it seems to definitely apply now:

Unalienable rights? What does this mean? This simply means that these rights cannot be given OR taken away. They are simply regarded as rights that any and every human being is endowed... not by man, no... but by their Creator. In many cases this means God. This is not necessarily to bring about a discussion of whether or not God exists - but to explain that every human being has these rights, whether or not they are stated by another. Now, to explain further, there is a difference between having these rights and having a "right to" these rights. A man who chooses to murder another, for example, has given up his rights to liberty. He chose to inflict on another person's right to life, therefore he shall be put in jail. Choices we make in life will certainly have an effect on what rights you will have a "right to have." As I have said in the past... not all freedoms are awarded to those who bear ignorance. If you do something stupid, there will be a consequence.

The referenced original post I previously wrote can be found here: http://lavidadesheri.blogspot.com/2009/06/epiphany.html ... or here: http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=95966911244

I mention this because of the misguided reasoning of those endorsing nationalized healthcare. Will this help some people? Yes. Will it accomplish what it is SAID to accomplish? Most likely, NO. The government will be taking OUR tax dollars to pay for something that will minimally cover a great number of people and inflict on ALL of these aforementioned UNALIENABLE RIGHTS. This bill will also restrict care to those who are truly in need. All you need to do is reference countries who already have nationalized healthcare- are they better off? NO. Canada and England are two good examples. Life expectancy for people who have life-threatening disorders, diseases or conditions is DRAMATICALLY less than it has been in America. There are so many problems with this bill and I don't think I could even begin to describe them here... and I haven't even mentioned the problem that I fight for every day of my life- defending the life of the unborn. I am outraged and ready to take action. Whatever it takes, I will fight for the America that I know and love. I will fight for the right of every human being to have LIFE from conception to natural death, LIBERTY to live in a country of the free, and the PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS- so long as it does not impede another's God-given right to the same. I stand for what this country was built on and will NOT back down.

I will leave you with the words of Ronald Reagan:

"There are no easy answers' but there are simple answers. We must have the courage to do what we know is morally right."

Latarae Sunday Reflections

Fr. Will gave an excellent homily at Mass today. He spoke about how we need to live our lives in such a way that allows God to reach beyond the surface. This needs to be reflected in how we relate to others.

I find this idea to be relevant to most everyone in this day and age. So many of us get caught up in surface-level communication... not allowing anyone to relate on a deeper level- because we realize subconsciously that it is safer. I know that I am definitely guilty of this. I put up walls and keep many people at a distance so as to keep from any kind of emotional pain. What is even more upsetting, is that this is also seeping into my relationship with God. I keep Him at a safe distance... close enough to feel like I'm relating with Him, yet far enough away to not let Him truly reach my heart. This is a difficult realization that I have come to... however, it seems that Lent is a perfect opportunity to remedy this problem.

I am going to take this Lent to help open my heart to deeper relationships with God and those around me. Fr. Will mentioned that modern technology has contributed to this issue- and it's so true. The ability to instant message, text message or use surface-level technology to "build relationships" with others is deceiving what we know to be an ordinary friendship. This is not to say that modern technology is intrinsically bad/evil by any means. This is merely to point out that we have allowed it to replace a lot of necessary person-to-person interaction that is needed for a solid relationship. It is more convenient and therefore a more common method of maintaining a relationship with another. It has also hindered our interactions with one-another when we are in-person. Conversations often fail to reach a deeper level and stay at the surface. It seems rare to have deep and meaningful conversations- reaching at Truth, truly getting to know someone, or revealing much of anything about a person. This doesn't apply to everyone of course, but it is definitely something to think about and consider.

Meaning Behind the Song

This has happened before. I had a song stuck in my head and no matter how hard I tried, I just couldn't get it out. Last time it was The Frey's "You Found Me." It made sense at the time why after I thought about it. Sometimes words and/or songs stick in your head for a reason.

The song that I currently cannot seem to get out of my head is Kris Allen's "Live Like We're Dying." This song is catchy and has a good message. The lyrics are as follows:

Kris Allen - Live Like We’re Dying Lyrics

Sometimes we fall down and can’t get back up
We’re hiding behind skin that’s too tough
How come we don’t say I love you enough
Till it’s to late, it’s not too late

Our hearts are hungry for a food that won’t come
We could make a feast from these crumbs
And we’re all staring down the barrel of a gun
So if your life flashed before you
What would you wish you would’ve done

Yeah… gotta start
Lookin at the hand of the time we’ve been given here
This is all we got and we gotta start pickin it
Every second counts on a clock that’s tickin’
Gotta live like we’re dying

We only got
86 400 seconds in a day to
Turn it all around or throw it all away
We gotta tell ‘em that we love ‘em
While we got the chance to say
Gotta live like we’re dying

And if your plane fell out of the skies
Who would you call with your last goodbyes
Should be so careful who we live out our lives
So when we long for absolution
There’ll no one on the line

Yeah… gotta start
Lookin at the hand of the time we’ve been given here
This is all we got and we gotta start pickin it
Every second counts on a clock that’s tickin’
Gotta live like we’re dying

We only got
86 400 seconds in a day to
Turn it all around or throw it all away
We gotta tell ‘em that we love ‘em
While we got the chance to say
Gotta live like we’re dying

Like we’re dying oh - like we’re dying [x2]

We only got
86 400 seconds in a day to
Turn it all around or throw it all away
We gotta tell ‘em that we love ‘em
While we got the chance to say
Gotta live - like we’re dying

We never know a good thing till it’s gone
You never see a crash until it’s head on
All those people right when we’re dead wrong
You never know a good thing till it’s gone

Yeah… gotta start
Lookin at the hand of the time we’ve been given here
This is all we got and we gotta start livin it
Every second counts on a clock that’s tickin’
Gotta live like we’re dying

We only got
86 400 seconds in a day to
Turn it all around or throw it all away
We gotta tell ‘em that we love ‘em
While we got the chance to say
Gotta live like we’re dying

Like we’re dying oh - like we’re dying [x2]

We only got
86 400 seconds in a day to
Turn it all around or throw it all away
We gotta tell ‘em that we love ‘em
While we got the chance to say
Gotta live like we’re dying
Live like we’re dying

This song contains a lot of truth. We need to make sure to tell those you care for that you love them. Show them that you truly do care. How else can the knowledge be made known? Give life a chance... you have to take some risks. Yes, mistakes will be made - but that is how you learn. Don't let life pass you by. However, at the same time - don't be naïve... some risks are worth taking and some are not. Learn to judge the difference. Don't let past mistakes come between you and making amends. Time on earth is short, make it count and push yourself to be the best version of yourself. Don't limit what you can do, don't compare yourself thinking you can never be as good a person as so-and-so. Give yourself some credit and make steps to better yourself.... and guess what? We are in the perfect season for that. LENT! Take this Lent to pray and ask God how to become the person He wants you to be. It is never too late. Start now. Make it a good Lent. Think of what Jesus did for each one of us. He gave His life for the betterment of mankind. Can you not offer even a fraction of that? Devote even 10 minutes a day to improve your relationship with God. He will take whatever you have to offer. HE loves you and is not afraid to tell you. Let Him.

Ever-changing Life

Some days I get thinking about my future and one of two things happen. Either I get really excited about the countless possibilities OR I get scared out of my mind over the unknown that lies ahead. But, through this... I've discovered - the fear I sometimes feel - only brings me to question the decisions I am making now, working to make a difference every step of the way. I more carefully analyze where my life is headed and what I am doing to make things happen. How is my relationship with God strengthening my future? AND more importantly... how is what I am doing now strengthening my relationship with God? These are two questions that cause a great deal of consideration and thought.

With Lent quickly approaching... I see it as another incredible opportunity to grow in my life and relationship with God. Sacrificing something for Lent should not be as basic as it sounds. The point of giving something up is to bring you closer in your walk with God.... a way to develop your relationship and come to a better understanding of His Passion where He gave His life for us. I am carefully considering what way would best help me accomplish this. Lent has always been one of my favorite times of the year. It has always been a time of great reflection and spiritual growth. I pray that this Lent may be just as fruitful and thought-provoking as in the past.

God's love is overwhelming - a relationship is a bit of give and take... so, let God take hold of your heart as He gives you His.

Men: A Challenge for You

To all the men out there,

I have had several recent encounters that have compelled me to write this. There are some things in life that need to be mentioned and this is one of them.

In case you haven't heard: it is not flattering for women to hear comments about how "hott" she is. Yes, it is nice to be complimented on looks - however... there is a certain implication that comes along with a comment such as that.

Women need to hear that they are worth more than that. Men, this is a challenge for you. I challenge you to think about the way you look at and/or talk about women.

Do you see them as something for your visual pleasure? Do you see them as something that is there to satisfy your yearning for another?

OR

Do you respect women as people? Do you consider that perhaps, there is more beyond the surface and doesn't stop at looks alone?

This is not to say that men are the only ones guilty of this. As a woman, I know that we have fallen into this method of thinking as well. Men - you have the right to call women out on this too. These thoughts can really go both ways.

The point I am trying to focus on is this. There is a certain dignity and respect that EVERY person deserves. Even though it may seem harmless to call someone "hott" or something similar - superficial comments can cause scars. Let me explain further... take the following scenario:

All her life, Alice was complimented on looks. She went through life expecting people to notice how attractive she was. However, later in life - she discovered that all these comments left her feeling empty and yearning for more. Was this all she meant to people? What happens when she grows older and is no longer deemed attractive? This led her to obsess over her looks just to ensure that the comments continued. She did not fully realize the extent to which this damaged her outlook and those around her. Her friends may have gotten comments here and there - but nothing to the extent she did. This led to self-image issues all around. The obsession with looks took much of her time.

This story is sadly not far off of true scenarios. Society's obsession with looks has stemmed from the lack in respect of the dignity of the human person. This whole thing may sound a bit extreme - but sometimes, you have to expand more to make certain the point is understood.

To sum it up: Men, if there is someone that you care about in your life (or someone you would like to be in your life) - show her in a way that does not focus solely on looks. Yes, she does need to hear that she is beautiful - but, that comment needs to go beyond the surface. She can tell the difference between "you're beautiful" and "you're hott." I can guarantee you - any woman I know would much rather hear the former.

A great deal of what I discussed in here is mentioned in the book, 'Captivating.' (Or, possibly, 'Wild at Heart'... though I have not read that one.)

I hope this gives you something to think about and consider. It is not meant to be an attack - merely something to be made aware.

Reflections

I went to Theology on Tap today in Remus... which got me thinking about a lot of things that I seem to have been avoiding lately.

The speaker said some great things about what it is that God asks of us and how so many of the challenges we face lead us into what is only meant for us to do and nobody else. This made me think about so many of the challenges I've been faced with recently and how I've been handling them. I need to accept what is put before me as a gift, even if the task is difficult or involves suffering... I am the only person having this very experience. Every moment that I live - nobody else is given a moment like it. Every person's life is such a unique gift from God and even though it is exceedingly difficult to contemplate... nobody gets to experience the same thing.

Every challenge, every obstacle.... is an opportunity for you to grow closer to God. Just think of how much progress one could make with this attitude. I know that my life would be a heck of a lot easier if I could hold this as my own personal outlook on life. It's far easier said than done of course... like so many other things in life.

Some of the biggest challenges include taking a step forward - away from past failures and pains. I know that I often hang on to the past. It can be a good thing sometimes... but it usually is not. I only hope that I can move forward and keep the past in the past. I know I have a lot to look forward to in the future, but sometimes that vision gets clouded with the stress of the present. It's funny I say that now... being on winter break. I should be able to see clearly and be optimistic, but it seems that there are still things stopping me. I don't know if it's a subconscious pang or what... but, it's still just not that easy to think positively about many things in the future. There's so much crap in this world and it's hard to sift through it to get to where optimism can exist.

Thankfully, after this talk, it has given me a chance to be grateful and stop whining about annoyances. I am thankful for the opportunity to grow in love with God and move on from the everyday problems to new beginnings and a hopeful outlook.

The Anniversary

It has been 3 years. Three years ago... my good friend, Aaron passed away. It seems just as surreal now as it did the day I found out. I remember, It was abound 9 a.m. when I heard the news. I was sitting at work on the fourth floor of the library in the business services office. It was a Friday. I was sitting there waiting for the weekend to come... and to hear if my dear friend was still alive. When I heard the news, I could do little to hold back the tears. I knew it was unprofessional... but it was not humanly possible to stop the flow of emotion. My friend whom I loved dearly... and had shared so much with for the past 6 or 7 years of my life was now gone. The "boy" who had just recently been camping with his friends like any other recent high school graduate... was no longer with us on earth. His short 19 years were over. It didn't feel real. I wanted to yell at God for taking him from us... but I knew he was in a better place. I wanted to be selfish and beg for him to be given back. He was too young. He shouldn't have went like this. The pain... oh the pain. There are some things I will never forget about his last days here. Some of these things I would love to remove from my memory... the shrill sound coming from the ICU... which was unmistakably him... a sound that will stick with me for the rest of my life. But, praise God for the joyous memories. Praise God for all the good that I can hold on to. The impact he had on my life... I don't think I can put into words. He was one who truly loved God and let his faith lead him in life. I don't know if he ever knew how much he meant to me.

My dearest friend, I miss you now more than ever. I praise God for allowing me the privilege to have known you for the time I did. You blessed my life in so many ways. I am having a difficult time letting go... I don't know if I have the strength. Attending your funeral was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. I pray that God gives me the courage I need to let you go. I love you.

Life progresses

Hi All,

Things in my life have definitely proceeded on the fast track. It's already coming up on the fourth week of the fall semester. The remainder of my time in D.C. was more than I could have ever imagined. I still stand by the fact that it was one of the most incredible experiences of my life. I learned more about myself and my (hopeful) future than I ever thought I would.

It's so great how God makes His presence known in a person's life. He sees you mess up, or even do something right and gives you further direction. This summer is certainly proof to me that a lot of what I'm doing is working in good conscience with God's plan.

My goals have turned from "What will benefit me?" to "What would God like me to do?" My prayer has become more focused and my life is taking steps to being more God-centered. It seems to take more effort than expected. However, aren't all good things worth fighting for? Life is full of surprises and I can't wait to see what's next.

God bless,
Sheri

Update #3 from DC!

Hello All!

Life in DC has become one crazy ride… in many senses of the word. I still absolutely LOVE it here! I wish I would’ve posted last week; but ever since I began working on the Hill, I have had so much less spare time! Today was the first day in weeks that I got home before 6 p.m.

So, to pick up where my last update left off: My last week in the SFLA office was kind of sad, but fun. I really enjoyed working there every day. Wednesday (June 24) I worked on a lot of the same stuff in the office and it was also Rachana’s birthday (one of the SFLA interns) so we went out to dinner that evening. Thursday, the 25th we got to meet up with Congressman Spencer Bachus of Alabama. Due to Congress being in session that day, our meeting was interrupted twice because of voting. So, we talked briefly, got a picture and left. Friday after work, all of the SFLA interns went out to see The Stoning of Soraya M., from the producers of The Passion of the Christ. It was an extremely powerful film. The movie tells the story of Soraya M. and the injustice that took place. It is extremely relevant in light of recent events in Iran. I highly recommend seeing it. It was only playing in select theatres when we saw it, but I’m hoping it will be more widespread in the coming days. Also, while we were walking out of the movie… somewhat emotionally drained… we ran into former senator Rick Santorum! It was pretty cool – we talked to him a bit, got a picture and left. We later went to dinner and discussed the film… at least those of us who were able. It was a fairly hard film to watch and absorb.

On Saturday one of the SFLA staffers (Lucy) took us to Great Falls for an incredible hike. It was a beautiful day and we ended up running into other pro-life interns on our hike! We saw some interns from the National Right to Life and heard that there were also interns from another organization walking around. I guess it was just the day to hike. Sunday, the 28th was our day off – we just relaxed and…….. slept in! (Aaaamazing) Later that evening, Kate and I went to visit my friend, Rich, who lives just down the road from our host mom’s house. We had a fun game night and met some new people. It was a nice end to a very eventful weekend.

Monday the 29th was my last “official day” at the SFLA office. I was very sad, yet excited to start something new. Monday nights are now volunteer nights at the office and that night we stuffed envelopes while watching 22 Weeks, another extremely powerful film. This one was a short film – but very difficult to watch nonetheless. I advise caution with both movies that I have mentioned. They are good, but powerful. (It was quite a lot to take in within a few days time.)

Tuesday began my internship in Congressman Paul Broun’s office (of GA)! I was quite nervous, but the staffers are so great! Congress was not in session due to the holiday, so I eased into the swing of things. It probably was a bit less overwhelming than if they had been in session my first few days. But, I did get to go on a Capitol tour to learn about it, so that was exciting.

I got my intern badge on Wednesday and got to learn more about the office – sorting mail, answering phones, etc, etc. In the evening I had the privilege of going to listen to Grover Norquist, the President of Americans for Tax Reform. He was a very humorous and interesting speaker. I was very happy to learn so much about the organization.

Thursday was a lot of the same – learning more about the office and whatnot. Sadly, it was the last day of the other intern in the office, she was very nice and fun to work with. That night I went to go see the movie “Away We Go” with John Krasinski. It was a bit disappointing… I don’t normally like movies that are that crude. It had some good messages, but the crudeness kind of overpowered the message for me.

Friday we had the day off on the Hill due to the holiday, so many of the other SFLA interns went to the SFLA office to work for the day. Later that night we all went to Screen on the Green for a second time in Rosslyn. They play movies from the 80s and that night they played Top Gun. They also have a bean bag contest with 10 winners. I won! On my first try too, haha. It was kind of cool, I got a t-shirt with “I love the 80s” on it and the movie schedule on the back.

The 4th of July in Washington D.C. is incredible. Saturday morning we met with the other SFLA interns on the National Mall. The Smithsonian Folklife Festival is an annual thing that celebrates many different cultures on the 4th. After the festival, we watched the fireworks and enjoyed Independence Day in DC… quite an experience.

Sunday, once again was our day off to just relax and recuperate. Monday began my second week on the Hill. This time, I was the only intern in the office – so I was truly tested!

Tuesday we got a new intern. So, I got to help train him and ‘show him the ropes.’ It felt good to actually know what I was doing and be able to help someone else out. That evening I went to see a film called 33 minutes: Protecting America in the New Missile Age, another one that I highly recommend. After the film, there was a presentation and discussion. I recommend checking out the website to learn more about it.

Yesterday was my last day at the office this week. I got to visit the Capitol a few times, learn where some of the offices were and found myself giving directions to passers by… wasn’t sure when that day was going to come! In the evening I found out about a “small” (100+) gathering of interns for AIPAC’s Summer Seminar Series. I didn’t discover until I arrived that John McCain was to be there! It was interesting hearing him speak about Israel, Iran and other critical Middle East issues. The event was closed to the press.

Today I went to the Eagle Forum Collegians Leadership Summit. There were many congressional speakers and discussions. It was a full day of learning, no doubt! I enjoyed it a great deal, especially the discussion on nationalized healthcare. This is a big concern of mine that I hope to address in a future post. I have been doing extensive research on the topic and suggest that others do the same. Hopefully in the coming days I will put together some of what I have learned and pass that on to all of you. Tomorrow will be the second day of the summit and I am excited to see what I will learn!

The more I think about my time here in D.C., the more I believe that I could work here a year from now. I am going to stay open and take every possible opportunity! This internship has been so thrilling and such a learning experience. I can’t wait to see what is still yet to come. I hope all is well back home.

For Life!

Sheri

DC Internship Weeks 2&3

Hello Everyone!

I apologize for not writing earlier. SO much has happened since I last posted.

The remainder of my first week in the office was a lot of the same - projects and whatnot. But, I love what I do! Over the weekend we went to Rosslyn to watch The Breakfast Club on the lawn which was a lot of fun. Then on Saturday I was able to visit Mt. Vernon with the other interns and staff - which was incredible! I had so much fun walking around the plantation and visiting Washington's Mansion. We had an interesting encounter with one of the actors on the plantation. He was an intriguing fellow from Scotland. :) After our visit on Saturday we took a walk in Old Town Alexandria.

On Sunday most of us interns went to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. It was Corpus Christi Sunday and they had a gorgeous procession. I loved Mass... after Mass we went to have lunch/dinner at the Capitol Brewery outside which concluded our weekend... so much fun!

My second week was very hectic (which is the reason I was unable to write to you all....). Monday and Tuesday I was in the office doing the same old same old :). Then Wednesday was.... fun... haha. I got to drive to work in the morning which is always interesting. DC traffic... I don't know how I would describe it. Let's just say - it's always an adventure. I stayed at work for half the day, then I drove to Winchester, VA to meet up with Kristan (my boss) in order to leave for NC to attend the National Right to Life Conference. Once I met up with Kristan we drove with her baby, Gunner and her mom for 6-7ish hours to Charlotte. The drive seemed to go by quicker than expected. We arrived at the Blake hotel around 9:30pm or so. The conference was excellent. I got to work the booth for Students for Life of America - and meet LOTS of new people from all over the US! I had the privilidge of having dinner with Fr. Frank Pavone and Wesley Smith the second night we were there. It was great... so wonderful to meet all these people that are making such an influence in the pro-life movement! For those of you who don't know - Fr. Frank Pavone is the Director of Priests for Life and Wesley Smith is big into Bioethics, Eugenics and Euthanasia. Two very prominent people in the pro-life movement. Throughout the conference I got to introduce some to SFLA, explain the organization and what we could offer students. We successfully found 10+ groups that needed help... which was very exciting! The third night we were there we had dinner with 20+ students from all over the US to discuss and network. It was a good time. Saturday we stayed for half the day and left around noon to head back to VA. The whole trip was incredible and an experience that I will fondly remember.

For the remainder of the weekend (aka - Sunday) I went with several of the interns to the International Spy Museum... I LOVED it! We did the brief tour and are considering going back for the interactive tour. After the Spy Museum we went to the Nationals Baseball game which was thuroughly enjoyable... I think the highlight for me was when Presidents Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln and Roosevelt raced around the field. The game itself was moderately disappointing as the Nats lost to Toledo 9-4. However - the company of the staff and interns was great! I am loving the people here... we have all bonded so much and I truly enjoy spending time with all of them. After the Nats game, some of us went to Mass at St. Mary's in Chinatown. It was a very solumn Mass with no singing. It was peaceful and a good end to the day.

Yesterday was my first day back in the office since the NRL conference in NC. I did a lot of catching up and trying to do as much as possible. Then... as some of you may have heard - there was a very horrific, deadly metro crash. Praise God I was still at work when it happened. The crash was on the red line - the line I take every day to and from work. The crash happened at approximately 5 p.m. We found out in our office between 5:05 and 5:10. This crash is said to be the deadliest in DC metro history. You can read about it here. So, please, if you would - pray for all those involved and affected by the crash. The death toll is up to 7. The injured number is continually rising. I had a 2.5 hour commute this morning, as opposed to my normal 1 hour commute. I have never seen the metro so overloaded... It is such a sad day in DC. But, thank goodness for all the very dedicated metro workers. They have been working so hard and have made traveling go as smoothly as possible. I have also noticed that those commuting have seemed to embrace a more caring and sympathetic attitude during this tragic time. It will be a rough week in DC. Once again, please pray for the injured and all those involved.

I will try to keep on a weekly update - I hope all is well. Thank you for all your continued support. This internship is truly one of the best experiences of my life thus far. Take care.

For Life,

Sheri

Week 1 in D.C.

It has been quite hectic ever since I arrived in D.C. a week ago today. So, here is my first update!

I first arrived in Wheaton, MD to my host family’s house last Wednesday night. It was a very long drive, but the hours seemed shorter than expected. Fortunately, I didn’t run into any serious traffic issues, though a great deal of construction. As I was stuck in a traffic jam at one point, I was listening to Family Life Radio. It was a morning program and they were talking about some positive pro-life efforts. I was happy to hear so many good things about the pro-life movement on air. So, I decided to call in. I wasn’t expecting to be put on air; I merely wanted to thank them. However, after speaking with them, I heard the interview aired about 10 minutes after I hung up the phone. I was pretty excited.

Once I arrived in MD I had a good amount of time to settle in and get to know my host mom, Doris Gordon. She started Libertarians for Life and has quite a story! I recommend you visit her website at: www.L4L.org. There are many interesting articles on there that would be very beneficial to read.

I had a nice opportunity to visit with an old friend Thursday night and we watched the Red Wings game. Hopefully it won’t be a one time thing in the coming weeks!

My roommate, Kate, arrived Saturday night. It had rained the first few days I was there, so I was anxious to get out of the house. So, I ventured out with Kate and her friend, John who lives right off of Capitol Hill. It was a fun night on the town.

Sunday truly began the craziness of the week. Kate and I went to noon Mass at one of the local parishes: St. John the Baptist Catholic Church. To our surprise, it was a graduation Mass for the parish school 8th grade class. So, that was an interesting experience… J Later that evening we went to the SFLA (Students for Life of America) BBQ in Arlington at the SFLA office courtyard. We had the privilege of meeting many of the people we would be working with: the SFLA staff, the other interns and some of the staffers from Feminists for Life and some other organizations.

Monday was our first day “on the job.” We did not venture out to our respective offices, but instead met up at the SFLA office for training. We had some very… rigorous… training for the first half of the day. In the afternoon we went to Capitol Hill for the Conservative Leadership Seminar at the Capitol Building. There were some very interesting speakers such as Bay Buchanan, Congressman John Shadegg and Liz Cheney. While the final speech was being given, a Capitol police officer entered the room. He began looking around for the person in charge and told us all to evacuate the building immediately. He gave us no reason, just that we all had to leave right then. We later found out that there was a suspicious package in the entrance of the building. After our evacuation we went out to dinner at an Italian Bistro several blocks from Capitol Hill. It was a quaint, privately owned restaurant. It was a fun, but exhausting first day.

Tuesday began our internship rotations. I start out with SFLA for the first three weeks. Two other interns start at that office with me while the other interns are at places such as the Susan B. Anthony List, Feminists for Life, and Congressional Offices on Capitol Hill. My first day I worked on several different projects, learned a lot and felt very productive! We then went to dinner at a pizzeria in the Ballston Mall. It was a lot of fun.

Today was my second day working in the SFLA office. I continued some of my projects from yesterday and had a great opportunity to be interviewed on National Pro-Life Radio. I also got to go to another speaker event from noon until 1pm. Professor Mike Novak spoke about Social Justice – its roots and how society has skewed the meaning to conform it to a liberal society. He referenced the encyclical “Rerum Novarum” by Pope Leo XIII. He also referenced Pope John Paul II on Social Justice. It was overall a great talk and I’m very glad I took my lunch break (and then some) to go listen to him. The rest of the day at the office went smoothly and I went out for dinner with the two other interns that work with me in the SFLA office, Rachana and Billy.

Overall it has been a good first week in Washington. I have not gotten lost on the metro. I have accidentally gotten off early on the bus… but I learned from that right away. I have gotten lost walking through D.C. twice, but quickly found my way – either by asking a random stranger or calling a friend… once again, I learned very quickly from that and won’t be making the same mistake twice. I am learning my way around D.C. and am starting to truly settle in. I now have the confidence that if God ever ends up calling me to live here, I wouldn’t be too upset about it. J I am really looking forward to all that D.C. has to offer this summer. Intern seminars, speaker events and dinners pop up all the time. My weeks are steadily becoming very busy, but I certainly don’t mind! This weekend I may be a bit of a tourist and visit Mount Vernon, the Spy Museum and the Basilica. That is my agenda so far… which is of course always subject to change – as is life in D.C.! One thing I find quite humorous though is that I have acquired the ability to decipher the tourist from the resident. It seems that if you are wearing a t-shirt and jeans on any weekday – most times you are deemed a tourist… I have never seen so many people in business clothes in one city – myself included, haha.

Now, with that, I think I should probably head off to bed. It will be another long day at the office tomorrow! Tomorrow night is our SFLA volunteer night, so we’ll be there until at least 9 p.m. I will try to send out updates at least once a week. I hope all is well back home!

For LIFE!

Sheri