Today started quite early with 120 eager teens and adults! We tried something new where we played a song about being FEARLESS in each car. The teens were assigned a song and the van that played their song were their vans for the first portion of the ride. We pulled out at 7:28am and the ride went smoothly! I enjoyed the experience because I got to know some teens that I haven't got to spend time with and get to know. We had tons of fun including listening to Taylor Swift. Which if you know me is a big deal! Our pod of vans and drivers were superb!
After we arrived at the monetary, we got our room assignments. I am on the top floor with no a.c. I guess it's gonna be me who is fearless this week! I just hope the weather stays semi cool. But Johanna was so kind to loan me another fan so I have one at my feet, one at my head, and the one the room comes with on the wall. Not my ideal sleeping arrangements, but it's not about me and my comfort, it's about serving our Lord and the people of Pittsburgh! Then new had some yummy pizza for dinner! The teens seemed to love it!
After dinner was the nightly program. We the adults sang "when the saints go marching in" as the teens entered the beautiful room that Wendy Murphy put together. The teens sat down and we began the night with the first day of a 9 day novena to JP II. It was beautiful to see these teens lift something or someone up in prayer. Then after we had our first speaker. I am proud to say I know this man quite well and he has been like a father to me throughout my college career. He has helped me with my faith and with guidance on which professors to take (or not take) at ECU among many other things. Joe Hughes gave a wonderful talk about being fearless in our lives.
I'm not going to go into major detail because it means something to be here and hear it yourself, but I just wanted to touch on a few things that jumped out at me or seemed to affect me personally. The first was that you have to be fearless in forgiving those who have hurt you the most. If you don't forgive that person it's not hurting them in the slightest, it's hurting you and your past is controlling your present and future. You have to be fearless and confront your feelings so you can be at peace.
The second thing I want to touch on is how much time we spend on our electronic devices in a week. Joe said between tablet, computer, and tv, he spends 2 days out of each week on those devices. And if a history teacher (who are notorious for despising fancy electronics) is on his for 2 days how long are we as the younger generation on ours? For school and work that's obviously different, but how much time for fun do we use these devices? I know I am probably guilty of at least 3 if not more, days. We have to learn to live fearlessly because living fearlessly means living with people. My favorite quote of the night was you have to use things and love people. Not love things and use people.
We have to plan for the future, learn from the past, and live in the present.
God Bless,
Lyndsey Sweet
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