sailing through this world

Sometimes, it feels as if nothing is easy. Nothing is falling into place. It is tempting to give up and think that since it is not easy, it is not meant to be. When I was competing in Irish dance, I was trying to win first place so I would qualify for the national competition. I kept getting second place. I got second place five times before I finally won. I was so frustrated. I was tempted to give up. However, I kept working hard and I appreciated my success so much more because of my difficulties. We are all called to persevere. We are called to be saints and fulfill our role in God's plan. But what does this look like? How can we act as saints in our daily lives? One way is to persevere in our daily struggles and offer up our sufferings to God. St. Josemaria said: A saint is a sinner who keeps trying. How easy is it to place the saints in a separate category? Yeah, they were human, but they were special. They were called by God. They were strong. This is not tru...

Have you ever felt like God is trying to tell you something? Lately, I've felt like God is holding a neon sign trying to get my attention. I'm pretty sure that God is trying to get me to trust Him. Exhibit A: Philippians 4:6-8 Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.  When I helped start a girls household at St. Gregory's, these verses from Philippians really resonated with us. Since then, I have heard these verses everywhere!  I had to read them for class, I heard them in mass, my friend read them in her brother's wedding, and a s...

I'm currently home in Texas for spring break and finally have time to write and reflect a little on the semester so far. I can't believe it's halfway over! As many know, my school St. Gregory's University unexpectedly closed at the end of last semester so students were forced to transfer to finish their degrees. I was extremely lucky in that I was able to transfer to Benedictine College with people I knew.  Benedictine is an awesome school but transferring is just hard. It's even harder when you didn't exactly choose to transfer AND it's the middle of the year. There have been many ups and downs. I find that sometimes I just need to continually repeat to myself, "Jesus, I trust in You." Anyway, without farther ado, here's a few adventures I've experienced so far! 1. Walking into a Janitor's Closet Let me explain: I had just walked out of class. I meant to walk into the bathroom, but instead opened the door into the janitor's...

Sometimes, when I find myself in a public place like a busy mall or an airport, I look to the people around me and wonder about their lives. Who are they? What are their struggles? Their joys?  Each person we meet has a unique story. This concept was re-impressed upon me when I was assigned to read C.S. Lewis’ The Weight of Glory for one of my classes. Lewis says that, “There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal. Nations, cultures, arts, civilization—these are mortal, and there is to ours as the life of a gnat. But it is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub, exploit—immortal horrors or everlasting splendours.”  Each person we meet will one day experience “immortal horrors” or “everlasting splendours.” Yet, it is not black and white—we cannot clearly split people into those who will become saints and those who are doomed to suffer in hell. For only God can know His people’s hearts. It is our duty, as Christians, to treat every s...

Every new year brings new expectations, new hopes and desires. Many, when faced with a new year, believe it is time to make a list of things to accomplish. There is nothing wrong with coming up with a list of goals--the problem occurs when people make wild lists of goals because they feel they are expected to do so. If a person tends to set the same goal each year, there is obviously a problem with the mindset behind the goal. Is there a significant intention behind the goal? Are you wanting to make changes to your life because society is telling you to? Or are you convinced that in order to become a better person you need to make a few changes? There is a significant difference between goals which stem from true intention and desire to grow and goals which are the result of societal pressure. This year, I hope to continue to to grow in my trust of God. I am reading the diary of St. Faustina and her dedication and trust in God astounds me. She says to God, "I walk th...

As you grow up, life seems to get faster. Days are jam packed full of activities. You rush from one thing to the next and barely have time to breathe. During these days, it’s important to ask yourself, are you living with intention? Are you fully experiencing each moment God has given you? Too often, when life gets full, the answer to the above questions is no. We simply fly through life, living on the surface, not fully experiencing it. How can we change this? We can try to live with intention and thank God for each moment He sends us. St. Gianna Molla says that “the secret of happiness is to live moment by moment and to thank God for all that He, in His goodness, sends to us day after day.” This means we need to appreciate everything God sends us. Appreciate the small daily joys. Appreciate the daily hardships as they allow us a chance to grow in holiness. Appreciate everything ! Thank God for everything ! I’ve always found it very difficult to live in the moment. I tend ...

I fear nothing for God is with me. --St. Joan of Arc Strength. A word that can be used a variety of contexts. Strength of body, strength of mind and intellect, strength of character, strength of heart...  I've felt a significant call to be strong these past few months. On my 20th birthday this past September, as I turned the page on my teenage years, I decided that my goal for this new part of my life was to become stronger. I wanted to grow in strength. Physically, mentally, emotionally, but especially spiritually. At the time, I wasn't sure why I felt so certain I needed to work on growing stronger. I just felt like that was the thing I should focus on. It's clear now, however, that God was preparing me for the challenges that were ahead. I want to be strong in my faith. I want to be strong in my beliefs. In essence, I want to be strong enough to let go of my fears. I want to be strong enough to trust in God.  Trust. Seems like a simple concept but unfortu...