Ostranenie

Defamiliarizing During Lent

I've been asked many times if I get bored at Mass. "It's the same thing every time," they point out, "do those words mean anything to you?" 

The answer is yes those words mean something to me, but only because I make sure that they do, but this is a struggle. The traditions of the Church are rich and beautiful, but if you are not actively participating in them, they are just words, no different than greetings we exchange without giving actual thoughts to the conversations happening. They are just reactions, not communicating.

Mass should be all about communicating, not a routine, but a treasured conversation between God and you. If you aren't actually focused on the conversation, what good is that conversation?

Try to de-familiarize yourself with Mass over the remaining weeks of Lent. Try to see it as something unfamiliar so that you can look at it differently and more deeply, not just as part of your Sunday routine, but as a precious moment, different from all the others you have throughout the week. Let Lent be an ostranenie to you, encouraging you see the Holy Mass in an entirely new light and prepare yourself for Jesus' return this Easter.

Don't just go through the motions, immerse yourself in God's Light each Sunday, whether at Mass or a different celebration. We could all benefit from a little more attention to our time with God.

Totus tuus,

LeAnn

Don't be stupid...

Stay in the boat!

During my first week of camp, my boss came to town- Bishop Johnston of the Springfield-Cape Girardeu diocese stopped by to say Mass and enjoy a meal with some the youth of his diocese.

"What is one of the stupidest things you can do on a boat in a storm?" he asked the kids. They all looked around confused, seeing as most of them have had little experience with boats or storms. Bobbi Mosley, our cook, leaned in and whispered to me, "jump out!"

Eventually, Bp. Johnston was able to pull it out of them, that the stupidest thing to do was to jump out of the boat in a storm.

"The Church is the boat, when times get rough, when you feel scared, frustrated, or abandoned, don't jump out of the boat. The Apostles thought Jesus was sleeping, not paying any attention to them or their problems, but He was right there. Jesus will never abandon us."

The kids loved it. For days, I heard them using the Bishop's earthy, child-friendly phrase. It stuck with my staff too, they're talking about even making shirts. And it stuck with me, on Wednesday, I hit a wall. I was so tired, and just unsure of what I was supposed to be doing or saying. Bobbi laughed at me, cheering me on over the hump, all I needed was a minute to breathe, and remind myself that I am not abandoned. I'm surrounded by campers and staff who listened to, respected, and loved me. I could do this.

"Don't be stupid, stay in the boat," I heard Bp. Johnston say, and then I was up and ready to go again.

Totus tuus,

LeAnn

That One Guy...

I don't typically write about this guy, because I'm not a fan of the girl who centers everything around her boyfriend, but I have to say, he's earned this post.

Josh is not the guy I would have chosen for myself two or three years ago. Although he is quite good-looking, he wasn't what I would have ever picked up out of a crowd. Boy, was I ever wrong. What makes Josh so special?

He prays with me.

And believe me, this is something I had never considered to even ask of a boyfriend until a little over a year ago. It wasn't something I thought of ever doing with anyone really, but one day we were laying around, and I just felt emotionally stretched to my breaking point and it just burst out of me.

"Will you pray with me?"

Now Josh knows that I write this blog, and I'm fairly certain he reads most, if not all of the posts. He sent me countless letters while I worked at the church camp this summer, he's been to Mass with me although he is not Catholic, he knows that God is a big deal in my life. Why I thought that this was an absurd thing to ask of him, I couldn't tell you, but I can tell you how touched I was when he said yes.

So there we were, sitting in my living room, holding hands, and praying; for strength, and patience, for help and love, and when we were done I was just blown away.

I'm not saying that I'm destined to marry Josh. But I am saying this, the love that I have for this man and the strength of our relationship would not be what it is without prayer.

Dating has only two outcomes; together forever or break up. Why waste your time on someone who doesn't fulfill your needs, including your spiritual ones? I've often told campers that my favorite dates are Mass dates. Get all dressed up, and meet your cutie at Mass, sit together, sing together, hug at the Sign of Peace; there is nothing better than going to church with your significant other.

A relationship isn't just you and your "other half" there's a third person in there too, and you have to make room for God. Otherwise, a relationship without God will never be as strong as it could with God.

Your relationship should always reflect the Holy Trinity, the Church, and the Love God has for the other two in the relationship.

There are other things about Josh that I love; his songs he makes up, the way he talks about his mom, his determination, and his insistence on eventually owning a pug. But my all-time favorite thing about Josh is that he wants the kind of relationship I had always wanted, but never knew how to ask for. And I would not trade that for the world.

Totus Tuus,

LeAnn