Spring is in the Air

Me in my new home...i mean tent!

7 Guys....1 Van....31 hours....One Unforgettable Week

The Grand Canyon! All of us resting above the Colorado River.

   

Camping out West

Last week was spring break for IUPUI so 7 of us (four students, myself, my teammate Steve, and a friend of ours named Joe) hit the road for Arizona. After 31 very long hours, sleeping with elbows pinched to my sides, and with my entire body yelling at me for not moving for so long, I will admit I had my doubts. But as you can see from the view above it was definitely worth it!

We also took advantage of daily Mass at a local church in town, St. John Vianney. The priest there was so funny and very welcoming. On only our second day in town he told us to come back and use his shower (I'm guessing he could smell us coming down the communion line) After hiking the Grand Canyon on Wednesday (check out the picture above!) we took him up on his offer and took our only shower of the week Thursday morning.

Hitting the Old Dusty Trail

My favorite moment of the week was listening to Michael Connor share his experience while hiking a trail just footsteps away from our camp site. Michael Connor, at senior at IUPUI, was recently accepted into seminary and he told us he definitely see's himself giving a homily on the Christian journey from being on the trail. Here a preview of it below.

If all we did our entire hike was look down and just try not to trip (which is exactly what I was doing most of the time) we could easily miss all the beauty that surrounds us. It is only when we take the time to be still and look up that God's glory and beauty is so clearly revealed. 

And that its true that most of our hike will consist of taking one step at a time, but we also have to remember our end goal. It's not simply to "not trip" but its to make it to the top of the mountain. When we do trip we get back up, shake the dust off, and look up to the top. Always remembering that is why we began the trail in the first place. 

Our goal as Christians is not simply to get through life. We constantly need to look up and be reminded by God why we began the journey, it was to be with him. And as we walk the trail we pick up anyone who may have seemed to have lost their way and point them straight to the top of the mountain, reminding them once we get there we can finally rest and gaze upon the most beautiful sight we have ever seen.

St. Augustine. -"Our hearts are restless, O Lord, until they rest in you."

Night One: Camping on Camp Street

Camping off of Camp Street
My first night on camp street was absolutely epic. Maybe it was just the excitement of starting something new, but I think I needed this more than I realized I did! After just a few minutes it wasn't the cold or the rain that wanted me to go back inside, but it was the desire to get on my computer and get on my phone, the two things I do every single night right before I fall asleep. Once I made the realization that I didn't need to do anything right away, and that between the hours of 11 pm and 7 am nothing was going to change, I was able to freely let go and honestly just rest!

The Art of Silence
To be honest the epicness really didn't come from something, but actually out of nothing...silence. After reading and saying a few prayers I turned off my LED flashlight and just sat in complete silence with God. This may seem crazy but somehow silence outside is more intimate than silence inside. The sound of the wind, the trees, the occasional police siren...it just brings me to a natural state of relaxation and the ability to just be sill and know that He is God. Although I wasn't saying or doing anything a great sense of fulfillment came over me. It made me even more excited to see what God has in store for the days ahead. I will be in Arizona in just a few days!

The Journey Begins Tonight

Being a FOCUS missionary I have an incredible opportunity to grow into a deeper relationship with our Lord on a daily basis. In fact I am actually expected too, and I should be, as I would not be an effective missionary without daily communication with God.

This time of Lent I know God is calling me into an even deeper relationship with Him. Instead of giving up desserts or praying a daily rosary as I have done in the past, this lent I have decided to offer up every single night to Him.

I am not much of a camper, but that is about to change. My nights are going to consist of sleeping in my backyard and using that time to read, write, and grow as a man.

I am pumped as any man would be. Although I am not entering the wilderness I am excited to begin this challenge and write about how God can work through even during the cold and rainy nights here in great city of Indianapolis.