On Fridays we start the day with Mass for the entire student body. Since we have over 400 students we won't fit in the Church. The covered basketball court fits everyone and the students learn (sometimes through trial and error) that they have to be reverent even though it's the basketball court where they have P.E. and eat lunch everyday. During Mass I began to think about being a new version of myself. (The Gospel was about pouring new wine into old wineskins) I thought about how we're changing everyday(for better or worse) in the smallest of ways. We don't notice it as it's happening but can look back and see the difference over months or years.
That got me thinking about opportunities. Why did I wake up dreading the day? Well, partly because I am tired from a long week! But also because sometimes I fail to see the opportunities of the day, instead I see the routine and the mundane. And who wants to get out of bed for routine and mundane?! I see another Friday, the last day between me and my weekend... instead of seeing what's really there... the opportunities to do many small and wonderful things, or great and amazing things throughout the day. As I thought about it, the details of my day, I realized how many opportunities I have today to affect those around me. From the words I speak to my roommate when I first wake up, to the "Good Morning" to those I pass on the street walking to school... every "good job", "nice answer", or "you're really paying attention today" said to my students is so simple for me to say but has the potential to change their day, and if heard enough over it has the potential to change their confidence, self-image, and their life. I have the opportunity to stop by a coworker's desk that I usually don't talk to much and ask how he's doing, or what his plans are for the weekend. I have the opportunity to do so so many small things this day. And what's amazing is that every day provides different opportunities. Many unplanned opportunities pop up throughout the day. Like this morning when my 1st period class (which I had planned a quiz for) was cut down to only 15 minutes... an opportunity is set before me... will I be the new me, always striving to change for the better? or will I be the same old me and complain about the unorganization and lack of consistency around here? Will I avoid the person who tells boring stories and goes on waaaaay to long? Or will I show him the love of Christ in that moment and attentively listen the way Christ shows interest to each one of us? All these opportunities aren't put before us just so we can help others. They're also given to us for our sake. Every time we take advantage of an opportunity we are choosing to be a better version of ourselves, bit by bit... everyday, 1,000 times a day, we are given the opportunity to become more like Christ little by little. No opportunity is too small, just like every kind word and act of love from Christ was never too small. The best part? Even when we fail to see the opportunities or to act on them, God never stops giving them to us. Every new day He gives us 1,000 more opportunities!
Nobody's life is routine or mundane... we all have days when we feel like it is. I often think of my sister changing diapers for two kids all day, doing laundry, dishes, etc, but there are 1,000 new opportunities in her day just like in mine. And how cool is it that the opportunities I've been given are unique to me, specifically designed for me, for me to become more Christlike and designed specifically to help those around me, too!
We had the opportunity to make Sean's birthday special by combining his 2 favorite things, hockey and chicken burgers!
Never a missed opportunity to appreciate the beauty of creation at the beach :)
Swimming in the river, a great opportunity to spend time with the students outside of school
God, help us to see the opportunities you put in our life today!
No comments:
Post a Comment