24 July 2012
its too late for "shoulda, coulda, woulda"
Ok I couldn't spare you too much longer from my random witticisms. but this week I actually had to use it on myself! One of my good friends invited me to a farewell concert of one of his favorite bands. Judd and Maggie, if you were wondering, after 7 years of success in the music industry has decided to pack up and move on. and I know you're probably thinking...ok many groups have done this (think of the spice girls). but this was a brother and sister duo, the fact of the matter is that I was invited to a farewell concert of a group I have never heard of...and I was generally enthused to get away from campus and just hang out with one of my bros. besides that, when he told me it was at Mount St. Mary's, he would drive, and it was FREE...I was even more stoked (#summerbudgetproblems).
you see Mount St. Mary's University was on my original list of seven schools that I had planned to apply to my senior year of high school. since it was all the way in the boonies of Maryland (Emmitsburg to be exact), I knew my parents would not be enthused to drive to a place in which we already saw an hour video about in the comforts of our own family room. so this was my chance to scope out this awesome place, that I could have wound up at...adventure! needless to say the 4 hour journey there was an adventure in itself. when I arrived at the campus, I was amazed at the sheer beauty and magnitude of such a campus. thinking to myself "where in the world is the nearest bathroom?" in the summer this campus seemed pretty vacant, so it was great time to explore the campus and blend in as true "mountaineers". I was able to see the whole campus, their chapel, residence hall, seminary, student center, cemetery and shrine. (yes you read right, this campus is so large it had its own cemetery). this campus was spectacular so green and complete with a rosary walk. if you don't know what that night be...imagine all the decades of the rosary depicted in the fashion of the stations of the cross in a long walkway in the woods. I just kept thinking to myself "boy! wouldn't it be great to go to a place like this?" imagine this great campus complete with classical looking buildings, spread across the "Mount". WOW! so it was time to find lunch...and what do you know the cafeteria was closed until later in the day so we venture out (10 minute drive) into the town to get a bite to eat...all inclusive with a McDonald's, Subway, and a charming Italian restaurant...that's all! I must admit not at all what i expected of their college town...but I guess you make do with what you got. to make an incredibly long story short, we get back and the concert was great, I would call it indie, christian music...right up my alley! ;) but I kept thinking to myself, this is their last concert....I bet they're thinking it would not end like this or maybe they're regretting the decisions they made in the past that would amount to this last moment...then it hit me
its too late for shoulda, coulda, woulda! here I am wallowing in the fact that I could have come to this school and had an AMAZING experience, but then I wouldn't be who I am today. honestly, I probably wouldn't be in the seminary, studied my French, had my experiences in NYC, Madrid, Fatima, or Montreal, I wouldn't have made the friends I have or met the people I know and love. things happen in our lives for a reason. sure I regret decisions I have made and the some of the crazy things I've done, but who doesn't. life is meant to be experienced. the past is the past. I don't think things just happen by chance...their is a DIVINE plan for it all. imagine the last 10 years, months, days...where would you be if you changed just a smidge of detail or a conversation or a major decision like choosing one college over another. how life would be different! I don't know where I would be now, if I would be a "mountaineer" and frankly I am glad I made the decision I have. and I think in life we have to accept the cards we have been dealt with and keep moving on. you have to leave your past to the mercy of God and leave your future for the providence of God. "yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift...that's why they call it the present!" LIVE in the NOW, because you only have ONE LIFE TO LIVE!
oh btw Judd is leaving to become a Dominican Friar and Maggie is expecting her first child!
you see Mount St. Mary's University was on my original list of seven schools that I had planned to apply to my senior year of high school. since it was all the way in the boonies of Maryland (Emmitsburg to be exact), I knew my parents would not be enthused to drive to a place in which we already saw an hour video about in the comforts of our own family room. so this was my chance to scope out this awesome place, that I could have wound up at...adventure! needless to say the 4 hour journey there was an adventure in itself. when I arrived at the campus, I was amazed at the sheer beauty and magnitude of such a campus. thinking to myself "where in the world is the nearest bathroom?" in the summer this campus seemed pretty vacant, so it was great time to explore the campus and blend in as true "mountaineers". I was able to see the whole campus, their chapel, residence hall, seminary, student center, cemetery and shrine. (yes you read right, this campus is so large it had its own cemetery). this campus was spectacular so green and complete with a rosary walk. if you don't know what that night be...imagine all the decades of the rosary depicted in the fashion of the stations of the cross in a long walkway in the woods. I just kept thinking to myself "boy! wouldn't it be great to go to a place like this?" imagine this great campus complete with classical looking buildings, spread across the "Mount". WOW! so it was time to find lunch...and what do you know the cafeteria was closed until later in the day so we venture out (10 minute drive) into the town to get a bite to eat...all inclusive with a McDonald's, Subway, and a charming Italian restaurant...that's all! I must admit not at all what i expected of their college town...but I guess you make do with what you got. to make an incredibly long story short, we get back and the concert was great, I would call it indie, christian music...right up my alley! ;) but I kept thinking to myself, this is their last concert....I bet they're thinking it would not end like this or maybe they're regretting the decisions they made in the past that would amount to this last moment...then it hit me
its too late for shoulda, coulda, woulda! here I am wallowing in the fact that I could have come to this school and had an AMAZING experience, but then I wouldn't be who I am today. honestly, I probably wouldn't be in the seminary, studied my French, had my experiences in NYC, Madrid, Fatima, or Montreal, I wouldn't have made the friends I have or met the people I know and love. things happen in our lives for a reason. sure I regret decisions I have made and the some of the crazy things I've done, but who doesn't. life is meant to be experienced. the past is the past. I don't think things just happen by chance...their is a DIVINE plan for it all. imagine the last 10 years, months, days...where would you be if you changed just a smidge of detail or a conversation or a major decision like choosing one college over another. how life would be different! I don't know where I would be now, if I would be a "mountaineer" and frankly I am glad I made the decision I have. and I think in life we have to accept the cards we have been dealt with and keep moving on. you have to leave your past to the mercy of God and leave your future for the providence of God. "yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift...that's why they call it the present!" LIVE in the NOW, because you only have ONE LIFE TO LIVE!
oh btw Judd is leaving to become a Dominican Friar and Maggie is expecting her first child!
16 July 2012
we are all HYPOCRITES...and we know it!
maybe this comes as a shock to you...but the first step in finding a solution is admitting it! and now you are in denial "No...NOT ME". well I am here to tell you yes, even you! especially when it comes to panhandlers...yes the one on the street in town that you roll your window up to, when you happen to be stuck at the traffic light. am I painting the picture?
well a similar assessment happened yesterday at the parish I work at. it was a seemingly typical Sunday at the church. the a/c was working fine, the homilies were all different according to the style of each priest and deacon, and everything was fine and dandy until after the second mass. as we are processing out and I take my usual spot to greet the parishioners to say "have a nice week...see you next time". I noticed out of the corner of my eye a crowd was stirring outside. I quickly inch myself over in that direction to see what happened, thinking that possibly someone fainted outside or something due to humidity. there are a bunch of ladies huddling around the priest, sort of like a gossip circle and I hear "Father...would you allow this?". a few yards for this choice circle was a woman, clothed entirely in black, with a child helplessly clamped on to her dress. first thought wow, this woman must be insane to wear a black dress in the middle of July...and I look at her face and it is covered (probably to shade from the blistering sun) by a sign that states:
well a similar assessment happened yesterday at the parish I work at. it was a seemingly typical Sunday at the church. the a/c was working fine, the homilies were all different according to the style of each priest and deacon, and everything was fine and dandy until after the second mass. as we are processing out and I take my usual spot to greet the parishioners to say "have a nice week...see you next time". I noticed out of the corner of my eye a crowd was stirring outside. I quickly inch myself over in that direction to see what happened, thinking that possibly someone fainted outside or something due to humidity. there are a bunch of ladies huddling around the priest, sort of like a gossip circle and I hear "Father...would you allow this?". a few yards for this choice circle was a woman, clothed entirely in black, with a child helplessly clamped on to her dress. first thought wow, this woman must be insane to wear a black dress in the middle of July...and I look at her face and it is covered (probably to shade from the blistering sun) by a sign that states:
PLEASE HELP
I AM A SINGLE MOTHER WITH 4 KIDS AND I NEED TO PAY MY RENT
GOD BLESS YOU
what a great testament of faith. this is what Christ told his disciples, "the poor you will always have with you". We are called to be compassionate and generous people and here we have the ultimate test. directly after the mass many people passed straight by, some stopped to gossip, and some were generous enough to give a little something. I think it was a little off-setting to see, since it is a suburban parish...it is far from any inner-city. NEWSFLASH: poverty is EVERYWHERE, it knows no boundaries! but even within this circle there were advocates and condemners, one lady was adamant about "she is probably an impostor...how did she get here? she must have been driven". which I agree could have been true, but should that really be a large factor in your generosity. I told her, "yes they may very well be true, but if she is...how sad it is that she would have to degrade herself to that level to get a few bucks...you should give what is on your heart, your conscience to give!" One lady was like, "well I give any chance I get, many are veterans and need help" (as she demonstratively pulled out her $5). Then another was so appalled she brought it up "father would you allow this?" and replied "what would you want me to do, push her and tell her she is not welcomed...that would be totally against the Gospel, what Christ calls us to do!" Once the people from the second mass left, the woman was gone...without a trace. maybe it was Christ?
well after the third mass, she was there again and this time I saw her arrive...she came in a car and beckoned her "son" to come quick as the mass was nearly over. so she did not even bother to come inside...so I approached her and simply said hello. she was kind and replied in greeting and took her post near the doors. and the same thing happened again only this time....I was prepared! so after the mass again the woman and boy left, no trace. and more cars started to pull up...I'm thinking, you are too late for mass now folks and they were actually arriving from a nearby ATM to give to the woman. how beautiful! for every person who was so busy chastising her for being around, there were double that amount to give. one family asked if she could be added to a parish list for assistance. to make a long story short...in talking to one of the priests, I found out that this woman was actually a gypsy from Romania and this was a time in the area...WHAT A HOAX! so even though this lady was basically a nomadic panhandler and not in any REAL crisis. all this fuss was a great testament of faith and how much we truly LIVE and not just profess. this hearkens directly from scripture:
What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. - James 2:14-18Don't be that guy! LIVE OUT THE GOSPEL!
15 July 2012
lost?!?! MAKE THE U-TURN!
Have you ever been so lost...that you know exactly where you are?
I know it sounds abstract, but its really not. you can be driving, biking, walking (what have you) leisurely and suddenly find yourself not where you intended to be. or if you are anything like me, you know full well that you are lost but cannot seem to admit it. this was the same scenario I found myself in yesterday.
I recently accepted a job at a local parish as a summer weekend sacristan. sacristan is just a fancy word for someone who works in the sacristy of the church, setting up for the masses, opening and locking the church, making sure the a/c and lights are on...you know the behind-the-scenes work. which is good lesson in humility for me! I have been working there for the past 3 weekends and I ABSOLUTELY LOVE it. mind you the parish is literally 8 miles from my school, so it is really an ideal job. the commute usually takes from 15-20 minutes (considering if you take the normal, logical route). the church is located in a really nice suburban neighborhood, off a major highway. so typically one would drive the 20 minute commute to the parish via this major highway...which I HATE! I am not a huge fan of highways, freeways, parkways, or turnpikes. believe me I know all the pros and cons of them, they save time, money, and contribute to a better quality of life for residents (who are not close to them). many times I toy with the idea of exploring (getting lost) as a way to learn navigation of unfamiliar territory. I know REAL primitive like. so yesterday was no exception, it was a nice day (nice enough to not have the a/c blasting). then it dawns on me...lets learn a different way of getting to the church, so that I won't be dependent on the highway [except for dire emergencies]. sounds logical doesn't it? so I past my usual exit to the highway and continued going in the direction I thought the highway would have taken me regardless. so I'm driving down this avenue, which was really nice, tree-lined, not too many lights, REAL residential like...and I'm like...yep this is exactly what I wanted. I'm sittin REAL pretty, got my jazz music going (my driving station) and they start broadcasting a new French singer! so I'm stoked! then I see some town names which I never heard before...and I'm like oh this is where this town is and oh here's another nice little town. then it hits me....WHERE AM I? I should have been at the church like 20 minutes ago. so I start to panic and I take out my GPS. the GPS is freaking out and telling me turn on streets that were NOT around me...I SWEAR! it just kept saying next right..next right in 500 ft...LIES...because I would have been turning into someone's front yard. so I kept allowing it to search and search until I gave up, as I was now passing a canoeing place...not anywhere I needed to be. so I calmed down and took out my iPhone (thinking that would help). NEGATIVE! the iPhone maps directed me to the parkway and I'm like NOOOOO! I don't want the parkway, I didn't want the highway from the giddy up. now I'm frustrated, hot, tired and I look at the clock and I have been driving over an hour! so what does one do when you are lost..turn back around until the point where you started, before you were lost. So I u-turn and head back to the highway I so desired to skip and finally made it to my destination an hour and a half later than I initially planned....what can we gather from this?
Believe it or not this ridiculous fiasco can be related to the spiritual life. how many times do we know what is right and refuse to accept it and follow our own way. MANY times I have conversations with friends/people who are fallen away Catholics or Christians in general. I must have this magnetic aura that exudes "come tell me all your problems you have with the church"...which I ABSOLUTELY LOVE because if gives me a chance to apply what I am learning (and essentially devoting my life to) now. and they tell me all the turn-offs and issues they see with organized religion in general...sort of like that guy who made that video "why I hate religion, but love Jesus". so I listen and I gather the same info time and time again. they are seeking to fulfill that unquenchable thirst, that leads all to the Divine. they come to church to find hypocrites, rituals, and dryness. which I recognize as legitimate reasons...but the deeper issue is that many cannot see the purpose of coming to mass or church services anymore. and that is because they fail to recognize why we come and that is not to listen to amazing music (we have concerts for that), nor is it to listen to oscar-nominated sermons (there are countless conferences to hear notable speakers), and nor is it to hang out with my best friends and chat (we have coffeeshops for that). we are here to praise, worship and adore our Lord. bottom line. now listen I can give you tons of scripture verses that command you to praise and worship (just check the Psalms). But we should do it, no matter how much WE are getting out of it....I am NOT suggesting we go to church as mindless robots doing the rituals because we ought to (as if someone is forcing you)...but because we WANT to (its the least we can do). THAT IS THE KEY!!!! maybe I am going in the wrong direction, but I can easily turn back around. I often give the advice to people, that it's ok to seek because often times you come back to the fold with a renewed and stronger faith...maybe this is bad advice...but it usually has a great outcome [9 times out of 10]. we so badly want to find our own path to the same destination [Heaven], that is the philosophy behind the massive "splinters" in the religion we call Christianity. if you are anything like me, you are stubborn enough to keep going in the wrong direction until you are totally lost...dead end! you know someone once told me "the pathway to hell is paved with good intentions". before it gets to that point...no more my way or the highway...STOP, LOOK BOTH WAYS and MAKE THE U-TURN. the church needs you!
I know it sounds abstract, but its really not. you can be driving, biking, walking (what have you) leisurely and suddenly find yourself not where you intended to be. or if you are anything like me, you know full well that you are lost but cannot seem to admit it. this was the same scenario I found myself in yesterday.
I recently accepted a job at a local parish as a summer weekend sacristan. sacristan is just a fancy word for someone who works in the sacristy of the church, setting up for the masses, opening and locking the church, making sure the a/c and lights are on...you know the behind-the-scenes work. which is good lesson in humility for me! I have been working there for the past 3 weekends and I ABSOLUTELY LOVE it. mind you the parish is literally 8 miles from my school, so it is really an ideal job. the commute usually takes from 15-20 minutes (considering if you take the normal, logical route). the church is located in a really nice suburban neighborhood, off a major highway. so typically one would drive the 20 minute commute to the parish via this major highway...which I HATE! I am not a huge fan of highways, freeways, parkways, or turnpikes. believe me I know all the pros and cons of them, they save time, money, and contribute to a better quality of life for residents (who are not close to them). many times I toy with the idea of exploring (getting lost) as a way to learn navigation of unfamiliar territory. I know REAL primitive like. so yesterday was no exception, it was a nice day (nice enough to not have the a/c blasting). then it dawns on me...lets learn a different way of getting to the church, so that I won't be dependent on the highway [except for dire emergencies]. sounds logical doesn't it? so I past my usual exit to the highway and continued going in the direction I thought the highway would have taken me regardless. so I'm driving down this avenue, which was really nice, tree-lined, not too many lights, REAL residential like...and I'm like...yep this is exactly what I wanted. I'm sittin REAL pretty, got my jazz music going (my driving station) and they start broadcasting a new French singer! so I'm stoked! then I see some town names which I never heard before...and I'm like oh this is where this town is and oh here's another nice little town. then it hits me....WHERE AM I? I should have been at the church like 20 minutes ago. so I start to panic and I take out my GPS. the GPS is freaking out and telling me turn on streets that were NOT around me...I SWEAR! it just kept saying next right..next right in 500 ft...LIES...because I would have been turning into someone's front yard. so I kept allowing it to search and search until I gave up, as I was now passing a canoeing place...not anywhere I needed to be. so I calmed down and took out my iPhone (thinking that would help). NEGATIVE! the iPhone maps directed me to the parkway and I'm like NOOOOO! I don't want the parkway, I didn't want the highway from the giddy up. now I'm frustrated, hot, tired and I look at the clock and I have been driving over an hour! so what does one do when you are lost..turn back around until the point where you started, before you were lost. So I u-turn and head back to the highway I so desired to skip and finally made it to my destination an hour and a half later than I initially planned....what can we gather from this?
Believe it or not this ridiculous fiasco can be related to the spiritual life. how many times do we know what is right and refuse to accept it and follow our own way. MANY times I have conversations with friends/people who are fallen away Catholics or Christians in general. I must have this magnetic aura that exudes "come tell me all your problems you have with the church"...which I ABSOLUTELY LOVE because if gives me a chance to apply what I am learning (and essentially devoting my life to) now. and they tell me all the turn-offs and issues they see with organized religion in general...sort of like that guy who made that video "why I hate religion, but love Jesus". so I listen and I gather the same info time and time again. they are seeking to fulfill that unquenchable thirst, that leads all to the Divine. they come to church to find hypocrites, rituals, and dryness. which I recognize as legitimate reasons...but the deeper issue is that many cannot see the purpose of coming to mass or church services anymore. and that is because they fail to recognize why we come and that is not to listen to amazing music (we have concerts for that), nor is it to listen to oscar-nominated sermons (there are countless conferences to hear notable speakers), and nor is it to hang out with my best friends and chat (we have coffeeshops for that). we are here to praise, worship and adore our Lord. bottom line. now listen I can give you tons of scripture verses that command you to praise and worship (just check the Psalms). But we should do it, no matter how much WE are getting out of it....I am NOT suggesting we go to church as mindless robots doing the rituals because we ought to (as if someone is forcing you)...but because we WANT to (its the least we can do). THAT IS THE KEY!!!! maybe I am going in the wrong direction, but I can easily turn back around. I often give the advice to people, that it's ok to seek because often times you come back to the fold with a renewed and stronger faith...maybe this is bad advice...but it usually has a great outcome [9 times out of 10]. we so badly want to find our own path to the same destination [Heaven], that is the philosophy behind the massive "splinters" in the religion we call Christianity. if you are anything like me, you are stubborn enough to keep going in the wrong direction until you are totally lost...dead end! you know someone once told me "the pathway to hell is paved with good intentions". before it gets to that point...no more my way or the highway...STOP, LOOK BOTH WAYS and MAKE THE U-TURN. the church needs you!
14 July 2012
revamped...renovated...and reopened for business
Hello avid readers of Les pensees de Christophe. I am sure that it has been duly noted that this looks a lot different. And that is because it is. I know that it has been a minute (more like nine months) since I last posted...I can explain..."You see what had happened was..."
Nah! I am not going to try and bore you with the minor details of what has occurred in the last nine months, because TONS of stuff has happened. But to make a long story short, I have decided to resurface (like a phoenix rising from the ashes) and take another stab at this whole blogsphere. I tried to be a conformist and migrate to tumblr, but I tried it for 3 weeks and had like 4 followers...plus it was WHACK (with a captial W) because all you do is reblog pics and writing my typical long passages looked awkward. So I am back! YAY!
However, there is a twist. I have decided to rename and retopic the blog. No longer with it have a totally awesome french title which no one could translate (without the help of google translate) and I have named it after my AWESOMER bible study! Word Up! with Chris Adams...that being said it will be a lot more "theological" and "philosophical"!
****ANYONE WHO KNOWS ME KNOWS THAT I AM NOT A BIBLE THUMPER****
I love the Church, the Bible, the Saints and all the bells and smells that come with them. I am not (yet) however a bible scholar [ I am still learning like the next guy}, and I do not plan to try to convert anyone to anything...At the end of the day I'm just trying to spreading positive vibes, love, and the "GOOD NEWS" of LIFE IS WORTH LIVING! ;D no harm in that is there?!?!
Well I hope that you guys come to enjoy the new look, title, and topic. I assure you, you will probably not be able to tell much of a difference...so rest easy. I am super excited to get back to blogging here again...especially since I apparently went viral and now have over 600 views and avid readers from over 10 foreign countries (most of which from Romania and Russia...go figure) and of course USA! haha
As always I can not promise that I will be able to blog every night, but I will try my best! Are you stoked?!?! Because I certainly am! Feel free to leave me any comments: positive (preferred), questions, or suggestions! And KEEP YOUR EYES PEELED for the next post...coming sooner than you think ;D
Nah! I am not going to try and bore you with the minor details of what has occurred in the last nine months, because TONS of stuff has happened. But to make a long story short, I have decided to resurface (like a phoenix rising from the ashes) and take another stab at this whole blogsphere. I tried to be a conformist and migrate to tumblr, but I tried it for 3 weeks and had like 4 followers...plus it was WHACK (with a captial W) because all you do is reblog pics and writing my typical long passages looked awkward. So I am back! YAY!
However, there is a twist. I have decided to rename and retopic the blog. No longer with it have a totally awesome french title which no one could translate (without the help of google translate) and I have named it after my AWESOMER bible study! Word Up! with Chris Adams...that being said it will be a lot more "theological" and "philosophical"!
****ANYONE WHO KNOWS ME KNOWS THAT I AM NOT A BIBLE THUMPER****
I love the Church, the Bible, the Saints and all the bells and smells that come with them. I am not (yet) however a bible scholar [ I am still learning like the next guy}, and I do not plan to try to convert anyone to anything...At the end of the day I'm just trying to spreading positive vibes, love, and the "GOOD NEWS" of LIFE IS WORTH LIVING! ;D no harm in that is there?!?!
Well I hope that you guys come to enjoy the new look, title, and topic. I assure you, you will probably not be able to tell much of a difference...so rest easy. I am super excited to get back to blogging here again...especially since I apparently went viral and now have over 600 views and avid readers from over 10 foreign countries (most of which from Romania and Russia...go figure) and of course USA! haha
As always I can not promise that I will be able to blog every night, but I will try my best! Are you stoked?!?! Because I certainly am! Feel free to leave me any comments: positive (preferred), questions, or suggestions! And KEEP YOUR EYES PEELED for the next post...coming sooner than you think ;D
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