Your revolUtion begins with you

A couple of weeks ago I entered into a conversation before class with a few of the teens who had begun discussing the current issues facing our country. Rising gas prices, violence in other countries, increased unemployment, etc. The teens passionately shared their views and their hopes. The discussion was energizing. I proposed a question to the group: "Why don't you do something about it?" Their responses were typical of kids their age, and sadly the same most Americans tend to go with, and that is that they are not able to, are too young or not in a position to do such an act of valor.

I told them they were wrong. I said it doesn't matter how old you are, what you do, or who you are. If you don't act, who will? Write your Congressman, educate yourself and others, create a mini revolution, etc. They laughed at me, so I used it as a "teaching" moment.

I said: You know, Mary was your age when Gabrielle came down and told her about what was going to happen and she accepted. She was young and made a difference. We still talk about her decision today. A good number of our Founding Fathers were in their twenties and considered revolutionaries. The founder of Facebook is a college drop out and a bagillionaire...

The point of this story isn't to spark a revolution or even discuss current events. The world is a scary place. Society is scary. Life tends to suck and there isn't enough time to do everything we need to do, let alone want to do. The point is that when we look at our own lives we can do one of two things. We can sit back watch it go by, complain about how shitty it is, worry about tomorrow and try and get sympathy from anything or anyone that will give it. Or we can accept what's going on regardless of it being crappy,and make the most of it, then move on. A mini personal revolution.

I look at my own life. Just the other day I got the call from the job I anticipated would hire me. I had had two strong interviews and they made it sound like a done deal. The job that I thought I would have by the end of March, called to tell me that they were not going to hire at this time. Aside from that minor set back, I still live at home. There is no long term commitment of anything, and sadly anyone, in my life right now, nor is there anything concrete or clear. I could sit and sulk, but that's not constructive. I have analyzed my situation. I have reflected, worried, studied, prayed, freaked out and accepted everything...then I moved on. I have set out to apply for a job a day until I get something. Every "no" and every lack of response is just one closer to the one. I could be sad that I've batted 0-2 on the last two dates I've been on, but I've realized it's their loss and just makes me one more closer to the one. Writing, working out, hiking, and other productive tasks have taken precedence over worry, stress and the whoa is me mentality.

It reminds me of a story that I once heard about when the Master talked about a priceless antique bowl that was worth a fortune at a public auction. For years it had been used by a "tramp who ended his days in poverty, quite unaware of the value of the bowl with which he begged for pennies."

His disciples asked what the beggar's bowl stood for and his response was "your self!"

When they seemed puzzled, lost and confused, he responded with: "All your attention is focused on the penny knowledge you collect from books and teachers. You would do better to pay attention to the bowl in wish you hold it."

As we live our lives worried about tomorrow. Scared for what lies ahead. Nervous about where we are in our social standing, where we sit in the hierarchy of friends and if "we're where we need to be." We should really not dwell on nothing more than where we are right now. To become focused solely on ourselves, today, whether good or bad. We must accept what we know of our lives right now and work to make the most of it as we press on. Like the beggar we hold our own bowl that is worth more than anything in the world and must make the most of it and that's our own life that we get to live. We only get one. Live it today and worry about tomorrow when tomorrow comes...just remember we can only control the next three seconds. One. Two. Three. Repeat.

Until next time...

What you learn from being ignored by a tween

This past weekend I lead a retreat for over seventy junior high kids from the area. Like most young teenagers they come to retreats not looking for much or anything at all. And, like most retreats, I went to help share lessons of inspiration and faith only to be taught greater ones for me in my own life.

As we enjoyed a day of fun group activities, energizing songs, powerful witnesses and prayer you could tell that some kids were totally into it and other a bit apprehensive. As I facilitated the activities and even gave a witness I kept being drawn to one kid. A scrawny eighth grader with black rimmed glasses. He kept to himself, avoided eye contact and seemed more into his texting than he was than taking part in the day.

I attempted to start up small talk. When I came to an emotional or moving part of a talk I tried to engage him, but it seemed nothing I did, the special attention, was getting him to budge and I felt defeated.

When it came time for our retreat to end I happened to sit at his table to say my thank you's and good bye's to some kids from my PSR class and as they left, the kid looked at me and with a big smile thanked me for putting on the retreat. Then, coming from the kid who seemed bored and not interested, let alone ever paid attention to anything we did, completely caught me off guard. He said and I paraphrase:

I really enjoyed the day and what you said in your talk about feeling lost on your path up the mountain. It made me think about the things I'm struggling with on my personal journey. Today really helped me. I'm glad I came.

It's funny how often we try to force things to happen "our" way and stress out about making things work out how we think they should, regardless of how things are going. We strive so hard to make things happen now and make them so great and overcomplicated, only to be humbly reminded that what is supposed to happen will indeed happen, maybe not how we would like it to or when we want to, but it will happen when it is supposed to.

Last spring I was struggling with my job, my relationship with my girlfriend and a thousand and one other things and I had my spiritual director give me the best advice I've ever received about how to live my life. He said:

"Only worry about the next three seconds...It's right in front of you and it's the only thing you can control or need to worry about. The rest will happen as it's meant to happen."

How many times in our lives do we get so worked up over what we're doing at work, at home, with friends, with our significant other, etc. and forget that all we can control is what we do right now, and here in the next few seconds, the rest is out of our control. Just imagine how much more we could do in our lives if we thought that way. How much simpler and more enjoyable our lives would be. Sometimes we need those simple reminders that we can't control everything, but if we let go and live for now we can move mountains and change lives, even our own. In my case it took being ignored by a tween who looked like Harry Potter. Point taken god, thanks!

Until next time...