OK, I’m going to quit apologizing for not updating this as often. It’s SO hard to do with a college schedule; or I guess it’s hard with this student’s college schedule.
This weekend was one of those moments where I was ‘giddy’ almost all of the time. For the past two semesters I’ve worked with the leadership team for the Catholic Community’s ecumenical retreat called Awakening. Awakening is one of those events we don’t talk about much when we describe it to people when we try to convince them to come. Some of it may be the environment, which our words can barely do justice to. Some of it could be need for not setting expectations so high they’ll never be met. I think it’s really that the relationships established can’t be expressed or related; they have to be experienced for their fullest effect.
Awakening is about college students sharing their faith. Rather than an ‘evangelical’ bible-thumping faith transmission, Awakening is when people drop the pretenses and guards and speak genuinely. Awakening is where real life happens. Relationships are formed within 24 hours that would take more than three years (as I’ve seen in my 3) on a college campus. Awakening is becoming aware that everyone struggles through similar issues to some extent and that only through sharing these can grow. Awakening is not a psychiatric therapy form but is deeper. The impact can completely change one’s outlook on life and humanity in general.
I said that I’ve Awoken again. This is my second retreat on the leadership team and my third Awakening. Each time I gain something different. This time I was lucky enough to witness bond formed in trust deeper than I thought possible for anyone under the age of 30. People trusted us as friends and shared their most painful struggles as well as some of their greatest joys. They decided that it was worth diving in and taking the chance. The only thing one can do after an experience like it is to thank God. It may just have been chance that we all happened to be at this retreat. Even if that’s so, the Holy Spirit flowed through the event and impacted hearts. When I first went to Awakening, I got some meaning at the retreat, but it wasn’t until weeks later that elements clicked. At this one, the elements were clicking in such a way that it sounded like a giant roll of bubble wrap all popped in a fast succession. The sounds were fun, security blankets were shed, and all we could do in response was hug without barriers. Awakening is genuine life sharing. Have you ever woken up?
Speak Your Mind
You must be logged in to post a comment.