Fear

At the student-planned Prime Time Mass this past Wednesday evening, we were each given a square of clay before we entered the chapel. The opening question was not something to discuss, like usual, but instead was an instruction to form out of our clay something that we fear. 

I kneaded my small square of clay until it became round. I then took my skewer stick and drew an outline of America.

After the Gospel we were instructed to morph our clay into something that we believe will keep us from those fears. I then formed my clay into an eye. 

When Michael asked if any of us were willing to share, I raised my hand. 

I first formed the world because I fear the world that my nephews and niece, as well as my own children someday, will live in. 

I transformed that world into an eye, because I know God is always watching over us and He will take care of us, so there is no reason to fear. This isn't necessarily easy, though, and I get that. 


Had you asked me 6 months ago what I feared, the list would have included things like:

my future

being alone

failure

Here's the thing, though. I have learned a lot in the past 6 months. A lot. 

I know now that I will never be alone because God is always with me. 

I know now that I don't need to fear failure, because failure helps me learn and gives me the motivation to try again. 

I know now that I shouldn't fear my future because God knows what He's doing. Everything happens for a reason and if something isn't going right, it's probably going to teach me something and I will come out of the situation better than I was before. 

I have a really great friend whose faith I admire greatly, and she will occasionally text me random Bible verses. Those verses always seem to be just what I need to hear at the time. She recently sent me this: 

"Consider it pure joy whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance, which must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

~James 1:2-4

April 25

Busy day! The highlight, though, was cantoring at Prime Time Mass with Rob! 

It was supposed to be the whole band but those silly music majors had to perform Mozart's Requiem tonight. Oh well! We had fun :) 

February 15

I'm getting really bad at this...
I only had one class today, and it wasn't until noon. Awesome! I got up around 9:30 and headed to the Union to work out. I returned and got ready for the day. I went to my one class (French) and Flavia told us about an awesome program where anyone that has French background can apply. If you get accepted you spend either a semester or whole academic year in France as a teacher's assistant. You get paid 1000 Euros a month and you get Fridays off so a 3 day traveling weekend is possible. Sounds amazing! She said most people go right after they graduate so they don't interrupt their studies. I think it sounds like something I should consider....
After class I had lunch with Courtney. I checked my mail and had not one, but TWO letters for me. One was a Valentine's Day card from my parents and the other was a letter from my friend Rickey who is at a basic training camp in Oklahoma for 5 months. It's fun to go old-school and write letters. :) I did some homework and some laundry and then went to donate plasma. When I got back Chloe, Lucas, and Liz picked me up and we met Rob at Buffalo Wild Wings for supper. (It was a CAC fundraiser there, so 10% of our bill went to UNI's RFL). After supper we headed to the church to start setting up. Fr Ken is on vacation this week so it was a student-planned Prime Time. It lasted WAY longer than mass. We didn't get out of there until 10:30. But ANYWAY, our Praise and Worship band played some songs and it was good to get in front of an audience (and also fun).  Except for the fact the since I donated plasma and had my finger pricked, every time I hit the key juuuuust right with that finger, it started throbbing. There's a bruise now :( But if that's the least of my pain this week, then I'm truly blessed, as there are people out there in WAY more pain than a bruised finger.

Danielle redecorated her door today. Due to the fact that I walked in her room the other day(like usual) and interrupted her nap, I have a special spot on their door:

Hahahahahaha

My other picture of the day is of the cutest couple ever: Lucas and Liz :)