Hello

As many of you have noticed, my blog disappeared. I deleted the previous entries because I was getting too distracted and frustrated with blogging. However, I decided to return because I miss expressing myself in this format. Blogging almost has a therapeutic quality about it.

During the recent downtime, many things have occurred in my life. Perhaps the most important was that I was named as a Lilly Scholar for the 2007/2008 academic year. This honor is awarded to only 10 religion majors each year. My grades (4.0 in all religion courses, 3.857 overall), an interest to study religion at the graduate level, and good adviser helped me earn this achievement. Next year, I will receive a $2,100 scholarship, take the Lilly Scholar course (which will help me explore my vocation), and have the opportunity to take graduate courses at the seminary. I am very excited and honored to be a part of this program.

The Lilly Scholar came at an interesting time because it was made known to me (by Ericka) that I should consider becoming a chaplain. Ever since becoming a Christian, I have struggled with how to best serve God and my fellow human. A couple of weeks ago, Ericka was telling me about the chaplains that serve at the hospital she works at. She told me that I would be a good chaplain and should consider doing that after school. Immediately my vocation became clear.

I have also had two major religious experiences recently. The first was an opportunity to take part in a Native American sweat lodge. This was the final in my American Indian Spirituality and Philosophy course. The purifying effects of the sweat lodge were significant. I cannot say that I have ever had a spiritual experience that involved my entire physical being like the sweat lodge. When I emerged from the lodge, it indeed felt like I was reborn again. As I exited the lodge, the cold rush of air shocked me into a new spiritual understanding of many realms. I will talk more about this later.

The second experience was Palm Sunday Mass at The Cathedral of St. Paul. Before this, I had never been to a Mass that was not in what I would call a typical, suburban parish. I was completely taken in by the size and beauty of this cathedral. Coupled with this awe was the power of this particular Mass. This Mass was celebrated with fervor and love, which helped me to get emotionally involved. I cannot describe it adequately here because it was such an unusual feeling. All I can say is that I was probably in the proper frame of mind to experience the Mass like this on this day. The grandeur of the cathedral and the powerful liturgy combined to form a Catholic experience unlike none I have experienced before.