taking it all in.

The first two weeks were such a huge rush, and now, its time to reflect. A couple of months ago I sat down with Anna as we started to put pen to paper and construct calendars for the upcoming year.

We listed all the retreat dates.

LifeNight dates.

EDGE dates.

Special events.

Important things happening in the high schools.

And bit by bit our year began to take shape before our eyes. And we both noticed something. The first two weeks were packed with a lot of stuff.

Within a two week time span we had our LifeTeen kick off, EDGE kick-off, Confirmation Interviews, and a sophomore retreat at the high school which we planned and hosted. We knew it was going to be crazy. And it was.

By the end of it all we were exhausted, and I found myself after the sophomore retreat in the Eucharistic Chapel before Jesus Christ (falling asleep at times) allowing myself to fall into prayer. Just a quiet prayer.

Because at moments when we are doing ministry, or doing what we love, or doing what we feel God is calling us to do sometimes we can, well, lose God. We struggle to see how it all fit together, why it all makes sense. Why its important.

Even the biggest and happiest moments of our lives can sometimes become lost if we don't see them in the bigger picture, and the only way to do that is by uniting them with Christ. If we don't then they just become

experiences

moments

memories

occasions

lost.

They don't ever become "life." And in my ministry I realized I had started to fall into that same trap. It was becoming "just another kick-off / event / retreat / thing-on-my-to-do-list." So, there in the Chapel I brought those things back to Christ.

And I realized that there is something special going on here. Something bigger than I realize, and the Holy Spirit is moving in ways I cannot comprehend and sometimes cannot keep up with. But I know that I am blessed to be here bearing witness to it, and I am looking forward to this next year.

I hope you are, too.