Come run with Peace In Every Step!

To answer your questions about number 14 from the last post- the new thing that I'm starting for my job with Campus Ministry is called PIES (pronounciation).

Sorry Bridget, PIES isn't "Yoga in jammies while you use your beautiful voice to sing to and encourage the people laying on the floor in weird doggie alligator contortions" like you guessed.

I'm really excited about this program...here's what it is:

PIES, aside from meaning "feet" in Spanish, is an acronym for "Peace in Every Step." This group is an opportunity to gather as a community to praise God with our bodies through physical exercise. More specifically, we will explore how running can enrich our spirituality. PIES is an effort to find peace in this very simple, challenging, and invigorating activity! We'll talk about what running (or walking) does for our relationship with God and how we can praise using our physical bodies as well as how we can lift up our prayers ("offer it up" as many say) during our run.Some people feel most close to God when they sing, others feel closest to God when they sit in Eucharistic Adoration, even others feel spiritually fulfilled when they are painting a picture, this group is an opportunity to experience the Holy Spirit's presence closely when we lace up our running shoes and hit the road!

All are welcome- including those who have never run before to our expert runners and marathoners!

We will gather every Friday at 3:30pm starting AFTER fall break. Our first gathering will be on October 22nd.

I thought that you all may be interested, but this is by no means an exclusive invitation. Please feel free to spread the word to those who you think may want to join us. Attached is the flyer.

Running with you on the way :)

"Our inner running definitely helps us in our outer running. Through prayer and meditation, we can develop intense will power, and this will power can help us do extremely well in our outer running. Meditation is stillness, calmness and quietness, while the running consciousness is all dynamism. Again, the runner's outer speed has a special kind of poise or stillness at its very heart. An airplane travels very fast, yet inside the plane we feel no movement at all. It is all tranquility, all peace; and this inner tranquility we can bring to our outer life. In fact, the outer life, the outer movement, can be successful only when it comes from the inner poise. If there is no poise, then there can be no successful outer movement. Poise is an unseen power, and this unseen power is always ready to come to the aid of the outer runner...physical fitness and spirituality must go together. It is like having two legs. With one leg I cannot walk; I need two legs to reach the destination." -Sri Chinmoy

So Many Things Are Going On!

Some exciting, some not so exciting- and since one of those "not so exciting" things was getting a take home midterm handed to me about an hour ago, I have decided to blog about one of the "exciting" things.....my "job".

I wouldn't actually define it as a "job" but more of a formative experience that pays. I on campus for Campus Ministry as the Graduate Student Intern for Faith Development and Catechesis, (breath, wew-glad I don't have to say the title out loud very often).

In the spirit of staying positive and keeping it readable, I'm only going to list only awesome things about my job right now, because I need to be a little positive at the moment:

1. I work with amazingly intelligent, spiritual, and compassionate people. They have wonderful things to share- and they share them in a beautiful way.

2. These people help me to GROW.

3. I feel supported.

4. I am learning about myself.

5. There are people who know God and share their image of God with me.

6. This department works really hard for really GOOD reasons.

7. There is always food at work (and a bowl full of candy on the way to my office) and there are always people to eat it with.

8. I feel challenged to do good.

9. I am able to share my image of God freely, without judgement.

10. I am learning.

11. I get to work with programs that are really cool (for lack of a better term).

12. I am reminded of my own life's journey when I go to Campus Ministry, walk into Gries, and walk around campus.

13. People notice things (Fr. Pat) and help me to be more aware.

14. I get to start a new program in Gries that I'm STOKED about. Stay posted- I will share more.
Little hint: It involves comfortable clothes, appreciation of our ability to be active (get up get up put the body in motion), positivity, encouragement, and cura personalis, prayer, and good people. :)

Welp, that little list sure did help me to fee better about my day.

Feeling energized by my job but still not excited about starting this midterm....

They call this being human

So I wouldn't classify myself as "addicted" to this blogging thing and seeing as it's been like three months since I posted, I bet you wouldn't either. However, I have not given up. I will continue to (try) to share my thoughts.

I'm considering starting a blog topics jar... so if you have any suggestions for topics: PLEASE TELL ME! mmk, thanks.

For this post... I'm feeling inspired by *drumroll please* ehem...... bronchitis!

yup, you heard it, inflammation of the bronchial tree, yummy. It's what I've been suffering from, I mean... experiencing, over the past week.

I don't mean to be overdramatic and I'm not looking for pity, but it's been quite an experience. Since I'm not really one to come down with infections very often, this has been a shocking experience, for me, yes, for my family (who I have been crashing with for the week), yes, but also for my daily planner. I’ve had to miss so much, including a CLC (Christian Life Community) thing that I’ve been looking forward to, planning, and praying about all semester. But, such is life. Yea, I’ve missed a few classes, cancelled more meetings, lunches, and even clinic, but life went on….

How self centered am I to think that life wouldn’t continue without me? I’m embarrassed to say that it’s all too common for me to think that I’m am an essential part of something, what can I say, I like to play a role, I like to make a difference, or convince myself that I am...

And as I think about all of this stuff that I’m missing and how crappy I feel on this lazy boy, I’m trying (really, just trying right now) to convince myself that by feeling sick- I am given the opportunity to feel more human. This is one of the parts of being a living, breathing, aching, breakable, human….just like CHRIST. Christ was not without belly aches and his brochial tree was just as likely to become inflamed.

So, I’m going to keep hydrating, try not to milk the pity for all its worth, and pop the appropriate amount of antibiotics, but if I don’t feel fabulous by the morning, I still know that being sick can serve as a reminder of my humanity.

So, Lord who became human - who made himself with susceptibility to bacterial infections – remind me that I am not above this infection, but that I am able to relate to your son through this cough and fever. Thank you for your healing presence through medicines and a loving family and beautiful friends who have brought me chicken soup and many fluids, Help me to remember that when this passes, good health is an incredible blessing. Amen.

Resting for a while longer,
Briana

An Irish Prayer

Take time to work, it is the price of success.
Take time to think, it is the source of power.
Take time to play, it is the secret of perpetual youth.
Take time to read, it is the foundation of wisdom.
Take time to be friendly, it is the road to happiness.
Take time to dream, it is hitching your wagon to a star.
Take time to love and be loved, it is the privilege of the Gods.
Take time to look around, the day is too short to be selfish.
Take time to laugh, it is the music of the soul.

This is my body, given up for you.

I really enjoyed this article from the perspective of a mom. Enjoy!

Click here to read :)

You, your mom, your grandpa, Justin Beiber, Mother Teresa, Hitler, Obama, T. Swift, Fr. Biondi,- we are all part of the Body of Christ, beautiful, right?

with each ending...

So it seems that I started this blog at just the wrong time. With the end of my senior year wrapping up, I have had very little time for writing blog posts. Now I'm in the middle of my very short two week summer break, so I'll take the time to reflect on this transition from undergrad to big girl life.

Actually, I'm not entirely sure that I can put this transition into words. Partially because I haven't fully experienced it yet, but mostly because when people express emotions about events like graduation then other people listen and take these emotions to be the way that it will be for them. So, let me start by saying that not all recent graduates are experiencing the same thing, so this is the way I see it, please take it with a grain of salt (and a tequila shot if you must).

Big girl life, how do I feel about it? I'm sad. I know that I am going to miss the people who have shaped me over the past four years, yea, I'm going to miss them a lot. How-so-ever, I cannot help but think of how selfish i seem sometimes being so sad about this transition, I feel selfish because this transition is actually such a cool thing. I think about all of the wonderful things that each of my friends are doing next year/this summer.

The people I have met over the past four years are going on to study things that they are passionate about in grad school/med school/law school, they are going to give of themselves in beautiful volunteer programs where most of them get to live in community and share the faith that grounds them, yet others are off to put their beautiful personalities and presence into action in the work force as teachers, advocates, and so many other professions, I have friends leading camps, teaching others what it means to pray, who God is, and how to live a life for God's greatest glory. I have friends all over the country, sharing the wonderful personalities I have been blessed to know. I AM SO PROUD OF ALL OF YOU. I actually couldn't be more proud. I can confidently say that this group of people have taught me what it means to follow my own heart, my own desire and drive to follow God and to do God's will. So, thank you, thank you to each and every recent graduate, past graduate, and future graduate of SLU, thank you for teaching me what it means to choose a life of passion.

As for me? well tonight will be my last night in the residence hall that I have called home for the past 4 years, the place where I have grown into a woman that I am proud of. Yea, I'm so ready to move out. I'm ready to move on to make a different mark in this city, in this world, but not without a few tears and and not without transition that is most likely a little rough.

I'm typing this up as I'm listening to Carrie Underwood's "Ever Ever After." Pretty cheesy, but she proclaims "Each ending is a great new beginning." How beautifully cheesy and true. So, here's to this new beginning. That we may all have the grace and knowledge to overcome the inevitatable obstacles, to hold tight to those we've left and share ourselves with so many new wonderful souls. Here's to the class of 2010, my heart (steadily :) pounds with pride for you.

Praying for each of you Sons and Daughters of Saint Louis University forever.

May

I probably should have been born in May, although, if I were also celebrating a birthday in May, I may just have too much to celebrate. Here's why:

May = National Speech and Hearing Month and National Runner’s month

Not that I practice either of those things on a professional level… yet.

However, to share a little more of my perspective on the world: I love studying speech and language and I love to run.

I will dedicate this post to May and to the reasons why I feel so drawn to running and to speech-language pathology.

Speech-Language Pathology

I study speech and language because communication is SO interesting! Think about how different your world would be if you could not convey your beautiful thoughts or ask your interesting questions. We begin communicating at such an early age, it's quite remarkable- I could really talk about this for ever. (Good thing I get a life time to practice it!)

My interest in speech and language increases with every class that take. Learning how to be an active helper in people's lives to help them to be able to convey their emotions, thoughts, and concerns in a communicative way lights something inside me, sets a spark, makes me feel...alive.

So, Happy Better Speech and Language Month! I hope share more about my opinions and experience in this field in the future, get ready...

to learn more about topics of speech and hearing: www.asha.org

Running

Some people get it- some people understand why someone would want to be up at 6:30 to make it into the park before having to get ready for class. Others just think we are out of our minds. What do I think? I think that running is, well, running can be a truly beautiful, often times painful gift.

Running teaches me about myself (my physical self, my emotions, how food affects me), about the city I live in, and about being human.

The grace I receive from running is the grace to understand my human body, its limitations, and the power of my body to overcome its obstacles- no matter if its a leg cramp or a heart that doesn't quite beat to a convenient rhythm.

It doesn't have to be a competitive thing, it doesn't have to be for speed or distance- it just has to be for you. So, for me- it is for learning and for experiencing life and my humaness more fully.

Want to go for a run?

Additionally, May is the Month of Mary- I really don't have time to go into my relationship with Mary...but that's another great thing about this month.

Here's to celebrating everday of May!

welcome to my perspective

my blog. A look into my ever moving mind. After much reflection during 4 years of this Jesuit education, I have come to know that my thoughts, as yours, are a unique and beautiful gift. They may be scattered, grammatically incorrect, strange, or misunderstood, but they are a gift worth sharing. So...here goes.