A Spring in My Step*

Saturday is coming to a close which means my Spring Break will be over in about 24 hours. Usually, I pine for all the lost time and what I wish I'd accomplished over the break. Usually, my house is still a wreck, laundry still needs to be washed, papers need to be graded, and grocery shopping needs to be done. I always feel so worthless after these breaks because I mostly sleep and watch television. Well, I can proudly say that I did not allow my break to pass me by this year. My house is clean, laundry is caught up, and Chris went to get groceries for us this evening. Of course I still didn't grade any papers, but I can live with that. Actually, the only reason I am still awake is to take full advantage of all my time left (plus The Karate Kid is on).

I also think I feel great about this week because of the Lenten Mission I attended Monday through Wednesday. Fr. Dennis of The Brooklyn Oratory spoke about joy. How cool is that? Belonging to a religious order that goes around preaching about experiencing joy would be an awesome way to work for the Lord. Anyway, I thought I would share a bit about what this has done for me. Naturally, I am not going to give an exact overview of each day (who would read a post that long?), but I would like to condense my favorite parts.

The overall message of the three days was: Forgiveness leads to spiritual wellness which leads to joy. 

Night one really defined forgiveness for me. I know it is not approval to continue the act and that the only thing stopping me from forgiving is my own stupid pride. What really struck me is that forgiving is only the beginning of the healing process. I need to realize some people are too toxic to have in my life and will continue to hurt me. After forgiving those people, I will need to remove them from my life and move on to reaching joy. Since no one is in a position to condemn anyone else ("For as you judge, so will you be judged, and the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you." Mt. 7:2), once I forgive someone from my heart I cannot continue to "seek justice" by wishing horrible things upon them.

Night two discussed the environment for forgiveness which, of course, is the truth. When I forgive someone I will have to face some truths. These truths might be humbling and I might not like facing my own inhumanity (or the inhumane thing that was done to me). I must ultimately ask, "How true am I being in my life?" The closer I grow to God in the truth the stronger my spiritual wellness. It is important for me to remember that the truth cannot overwhelm me if I embrace it and rely on God to allow it to set me free.

The last night was by far my favorite because it shows that there is a light at the end of a healing tunnel. That is reaching joy! Fr. Dennis gave us nine ways to develop joy:

1. Develop a short memory--stop revisiting the pain 
2. Keep learning, growing, expanding
3. Be a good friend
4. Thank someone who has enriched your life
5. Overlook a flaw
6. Count your blessings
7. Look for humor in daily events
8. Deepen your faith
9. Make peace with your life

 The cool thing is that I feel like I already do many of these. However, Fr. Dennis pointed out that a great sin of human nature is to appreciate only what we've lost. I definitely do not want to fall into that category. So I've decided to live with as much joy as possible. I want people to see me and my joy. I want them to wonder the secret to all the joy in my life. I want them to ask me and listen to my response. I want them to know that even if they disagree with what I say that's okay, but the proof is in the pudding. I know that living my joy will say so much more than my words anyway.

The most moving thing we read during the mission was this poem that Mother Teresa put on the wall of her school in Calcutta:

The Paradoxical Commandments
by Dr. Kent M. Keith

People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered.
Love them anyway.

If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.
Do good anyway.

If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies.
Succeed anyway.

The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good anyway.

Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.
Be honest and frank anyway.

The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds.
Think big anyway.

People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs.
Fight for a few underdogs anyway.

What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.
Build anyway.

People really need help but may attack you if you do help them.
Help people anyway.

Give the world the best you have and you'll get kicked in the teeth.
Give the world the best you have anyway.

© Copyright Kent M. Keith 1968, renewed 2001

It was a very rewarding three days. My whole life feels refreshed and ready to take on the rest of the school year:).



*As you can see, my blog underwent a face lift. It turns out that the old black background with hot pink type was causing me mild headaches (I guess my eyes don't work as well as they did when I first set up my blog). I found a background that still expresses me and is much easier to read.