Peace is Flowing like a River

Peace is flowing like a river,
Flowing out of you and me,
Flowing out into the desert,
Setting all the captives free.

We used to sing this song right after the sign of peace growing up. I always thought the words were pretty; they'd conjure up images of a river and a desert and rain and green plants. And while this imagery is beautiful, singing this song again after a year of campus missionary work, a whole new set of images and meanings came to mind.

Rather than just an abstract idea of "peace" that is somehow flowing out into this idyllic, almost mythological "desert", I thought of campus and the students there. I wouldn't say that the college campus is the typical place I would go to if I were looking for peace. But, we're always called to be peaceful, even at college. One of the ways I am blessed to be part of the New Evangelization is by sharing what it means to have peace in one's life, even amidst the stress and business of everyday life.

I like the idea of peace being like a river. Rivers seem to make such a happy sound. Just so, peace brings happiness. Those who have peace in their lives are joyful people! Rivers don't try to flow where they shouldn't. They are bound by the rules of gravity and erosion. They can't climb up a mountain, no matter how hard they try. Rivers are made to run from a high point to a low point. We work in the same way. There is a natural order to our existence. God has a plan for our lives, and when we follow that plan, we are filled with peace and joy. When we don't, when we try to carve out a path that isn't meant to be, we lose that peace and joy.

It's amazing how noticeable peace is, too. There is something about those students who are able to face the common stresses of college life with a calm courage and joy. They aren't caught up in their grades. They don't become overwhelmed and anxious at a long paper or project. Instead, they are able to adapt as necessary, and maintain focus on what matters most: their faith in Jesus Christ and His Church.

As a missionary, I hope to spread this same peace to the women in my Bible studies and on campus as a whole. Many students who seem to lack peace in their lives don't even realize it's missing. It's like they've been living in a desert for so long, that they don't remember what a river looks like. Sometimes they can be suspicious of trying to integrate peace in their own lives. After centering their lives on grades or friends, it's hard to see why changing their focus to Christ would be important, or how it would even be possible. Sometimes, on the other hand, they do see the importance and possibility of change. They see how peace can bring them happiness, and strive to make changes. It's never easy. Just as water flowing in to a desert doesn't cause growth overnight, having the desire for change doesn't cause change to immediately occur. But without that desire, peace will never come. Peace cannot be forced into one's life, but it can be invited in.

The Parable of the Vineyard

Over 30 students celebrated Mass at 6:30 am

The last day of classes didn't start by hitting the snooze button.
  ___________________

The Workers in the Vineyard.
Matthew 20:1-16
8 When it was evening the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Summon the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and ending with the first.’ 9 When those who had started about five o’clock came, each received the usual daily wage. 10 So when the first came, they thought that they would receive more, but each of them also got the usual wage. 11 And on receiving it they grumbled against the landowner, 12 saying, ‘These last ones worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us, who bore the day’s burden and the heat.’ 13 He said to one of them in reply, ‘My friend, I am not cheating you. Did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? 14 Take what is yours and go. What if I wish to give this last one the same as you? 15 [Or] am I not free to do as I wish with my own money? Are you envious because I am generous?’

I've never really liked this passage. I knew it wasn't really about money, but even so, it never really seemed fair. I always thought, in the back of my mind, that Jesus wasn't giving the workers, who had been bearing "the day's burden and heat", their due. How could it be possibly be fair to pay everyone the same wage? Why shouldn’t those first hires be upset?

Last week Friday, the last day of classes at UMW, 31 students went to 6:30am Mass. It was amazing! We filled 3 pews, and took the priest totally by surprise. 31 students decided to begin their last day of class by waking up “insanely” early, as one student commented, and going to church. But a dedicated group of students, including the FOCUS team, had been going to 6:30am mass on a weekly basis all semester. It hardly seems like it would be fair for us to be recognized due to numbers, but not for the sacrifice made week after week for an entire academic year.

As I was sitting in my pew after communion, however, I was thinking about this passage from Matthew, and how I had totally misinterpreted it for so long. Being at mass, surrounded by 30 students, all I felt was an overwhelming joy! They finally made it! They finally made that sacrifice to wake up at 6am, get dressed, and walk over to the local parish. Praise God!

This is how those first vineyard workers should have reacted: With great rejoicing. They were supposed to have been happy for the workers who made the sacrifice to work for the Vineyard Owner, no matter how long they had been making those sacrifices, whether 8 hours or just a single one.

It’s so easy to become prideful in our own spiritual life. But that pride is misguided. It puts the call on our shoulders, on our response, instead of where it truly belongs—in Christs’s hands. He walked out among the people at different times throughout the day. Some He called in the morning—called to spend all day with Him, but also called to shoulder the heavy burdens of the work. Some were called later. They weren't strong enough to carry the full burden, but Christ still asked them to fully do what they were capable of. Some He didn't call until the very end. They were called to be a sign of hope. Hope for the first workers—their sacrifice of toil and labor did not go unheeded. Called to show how great God’s mercy is—there is nothing, no sin so great that God cannot overcome it.

I was overjoyed to see so many students come to 6:30am Mass. It was such a beautiful feeling of community. All of us were tired, every one of us would have rather been sleeping, but we were all there nonetheless. All answered Christ’s call to put Him first in our lives—even above sleep!

The Way of Trust and Love

Those who know me well know that I'm easily reading at least five books at any one time, and right now it's closer to ten. Some of them I've been  slowly working my way through, on and off, for years, while others I read through at a much faster pace.

I started reading Jacques Philippe's book, The Way of Trust and Love: A Retreat Guided by St. Therese of Lisieux, back in September, intending to read it in the week leading up to the feast of St. Therese as a sort of mini-retreat. The six chapters are short enough that reading one every day should easily be possible. I really enjoyed this short book. It was filled with insights from St. Therese herself, and Philippe's interpretations and expansions of those insights were helpful and easy. For anyone who is looking for an introduction to the writings of St. Therese, I highly recommend this book. I would also recommend it for anyone who is struggling to trust God or who would like good, practical suggestions for how to trust God in daily life.

Philippe discusses the importance of daily prayer, particularly daily reading of Scripture. He treats St. Therese in a very human way, showing her weaknesses and how she persevered to overcome those weaknesses. Philippe does not shy away from the fact that life is often difficult, or the harsh realities of our own defects and struggles. What he does is offer practical solutions to overcoming those hardships, looking to St. Therese as our example to follow.

Searching for and Maintaining Peace

I just finished reading Jacques Philippe's book Searching for and Maintaining Peace: A Small Treatise on Peace of Heart. Even though it is a short book, with just over 100 pages, it packed quite a punch!

Some highlights:
"God abides in peace and it is in peace that He accomplishes great things"

"When the Lord affirms that He gives peace, that He gives us peace, these words are divine words, words which have the same creative force as the words that brought the sky and the earth from the void, they carry the same weight as the words that quieted the storm, the words that healed the sick and brought the dead back to life. Since Jesus tells us, even twice, that He gives us His peace, we believe that this peace is never taken away."

"How many young people...hesitate to give their lives entirely to God because they do not have confidence that God is capable of making them completely happy."

"[God] desires our salvation more than we ourselves desire it."

It took me a few months to read through the whole book, even though it was short, because of how much material on which there was to meditate. More than anything else, it taught me how little peace I truly have, but how much peace I would like to have!

Seven Quick Takes, Vol. 9

--- 1 ---

Spring Break starts today and I've got a full week ahead of me! First up is Nottingham, PN for a FOCUS "Spiritual Bootcamp" retreat. I'm excited to participate, and to see many of the east coast missionaries that I haven't seen in awhile. Next stop is Virginia Beach for the annual CCM Beach Retreat! Finally, I'll be flying back home to WI to see my parents!

--- 2 ---

Although it will be a lot of travelling, I'm looking forward to it all. Spring break seems really early this year, but even so, I'm looking forward to a change of pace. I always enjoyed retreats in college, and the same goes for being a missionary. I've heard so many good things about the FOCUS Spiritual Bootcamp, and I'm excited to attend a retreat that will deal specifically with some of the issues that can occur in missionary life, like over-working, team life, and how to maintain zeal for the mission.

--- 3 ---

I'm excited to spend a few days at the beach as well. I have seen the ocean before, but it was when I was two years old, so I'm not sure it counts. For the retreat, the CCM rents a beach house for a few days. One of the rec rooms will be turned into a chapel where Father will celebrate Mass every day. Although it won't be quite as warm as it will be in the summer, we're hoping for nice weather. If it is chilly though, our polar plunge will be that much more exciting!

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Going from the beach to Wisconsin will definitely be a change in scenery, but I do hope there's still snow on the ground when I get back home. We had a bit of a heat wave hit in Virginia this January, and it was so strange to be walking around in shorts and flip flops right after New Years. I don't think native Virginians realize how cold it is back home on a daily basis. Sure, it has gotten chilly here, and some days have even been downright cold, but the day-in-and-day-out experience is much more temperate. I brought back a bunch of my sweaters with me over Christmas in anticipation of some colder weather, but so far they've mostly just stayed in my closet.

--- 5 ---

Although I am looking forward to spring break, life on campus is going well! I am leading three small group Bible studies and mentoring six women. When we get back from break, four of them will be starting their own small groups! It's been so exciting to see the growth this semester. It's amazing to see the courage and dedication these women have had in pursuing Christ, and desiring His joy and peace for those in their lives.

--- 6 ---

Of the six women that I mentor, three of them attended SEEK2013 over Winter break. Two of them are starting small group Bible studies in a few weeks, and the third, Danielle, is hoping to lead a freshman small group next fall. It's so uplifting to know that she found small group important enough to desire to lead next year's freshmen closer to Christ through a small group Bible study.

--- 7 ---

Please pray for all the women I disciple, as they start their Bible studies!  It's easy to become discouraged when people turn down their invitations to join a small group, so pray that God gives them the perseverance to continue despite any set backs!

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!

Second Semester!

Second semester has started! It actually started about a month ago, but it has kept me quite busy. We've seen tremendous growth this year at the University of Mary Washington. We currently have 51 students in 10 Bible studies, and 14 students in one-on-one discipleship with a missionary. It's incredible to see the growth in just a semester here. So many students have taken to the mission of FOCUS with such great zeal!

I am leading three studies with 24 total students, and have six women in discipleship. Three of those women will start leading their own small group Bible studies! Please keep them in your prayers as they prepare!

This work keeps me busy, but it is such rewarding work. It's so encouraging to see the excitement of Mary, Jen, and Melissa in getting ready for their Bible studies to start up in two weeks. They have been pushing themselves outside of their comfort zones in offering invitations to their friends and classmates. It's easy to forget, as a full-time missionary who talks about faith and Christ on a daily basis, that when we encourage our disciples to start Bible studies, we are encouraging them to talk about subjects that are often avoided. Asking those you know to come to a Bible study, to make it clear that you are Catholic and unashamed, is quite counter-cultural. I am so blessed to see their courage and fortitude, to pray with and for their success, and to persevere with them in the final hope of our salvation.

Happy Endings

The University of Mary Washington is about 70% women, which presents a lot of unique opportunities. On the one hand, it means I get to meet a lot of new people everyday since I primarily work with women. On the other hand, it means I have a lot of work to do.

With so many women, however, I end up talking a lot about vocations, particularly the vocation of marriage and, alongside it, the lack of men. It's hard to feel called to marriage, but to also know that you are only one half of that vocation. It's also hard to see two of my teammates married with children. Their wives are wonderful people, but sometimes jealousy creeps in, and it's difficult to not idealize the lives they have.

Mr. Bingley and Jane

I was watching the movie "Pride and Prejudice" with my sisters, and it got to the scene where Mr. Bingley is leaving Netherfield, his house near the Bennett family. With his leaving, he is also leaving behind Jane, who has fallen in love with him. As he was driving away, I said to my sister, "I wish life was like the movies. We know it's all going to work out. It's sad now, but in 45 minutes, they'll be back together and happy."

But life is like the movies! We don't have the pleasure of knowing exactly how things will work out, like we do for Jane and Mr. Bingley, but we do know that things will be happy in the end. Of course, this is all well and easy to say when life doesn't seem to be crumbling down around you, or when you aren't in tears because it doesn't seem fair that you have to wait, and the waiting is hard, and the waiting is longer than 45 minutes. In these moments, though, we get to look at the bigger picture: Jesus became man, lived here on earth with us and for us, died and rose again. He won. We will win. As long as there is faith and hope in Him, there will be happy endings.