This is my life on the 4th of July
So friends, I’m writing to you from 30,000 feet above the Pacific Ocean on my way to Hawaii. A lot has happened in the past few weeks, and I thought I’d update you just a little. First off, my last official event with NET Ministries
Thursday, June 19th, Julie Carelton and I flew to California to lead the Redlands
D-week, a retreat NET puts on for high schoolers all over the country… well, at least Minnesota, Texas and California. On Friday we started training the staff, 40 men and women from around California and around the country who were on hand to help us out leading small groups, giving testimonies, and performing dramas. This meant Julie and I were basically the MC’s and cheerleaders for the week. I must say, we did a pretty good job of that.
Father Mike Krelovich was on hand to help us out for the week. Father Mike is a former tank driving Marine with a big Jeep and a shared passion for a good cigar. Let’s just say, he didn’t let anyone off the hook for the week when he gave his homilies or spoke to the men’s and women’s sessions. He was, for lack of a better word, great. When he speaks, you can’t help but listen.
My highlight for the week happened on Wednesday night. The evening’s focus is Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. We set up the Alter in the middle of the room and 200 people crowded around and waited for Him to be present. After a quick exhortation by Fr. Mike, we got a few praise and worship songs going to get things started.
I had the honor of processing in front of the Eucharist with a censer full of incense. After a procession of the Eucharist around all those assembled, we placed the Monstrance back on the Alter and knelt in worship. Fr. Mike then took the Luna (what holds the Eucharist in the Monstrance) out and handed it to me saying, “You’ve done a lot of work these past two years”. Then he took the incense from me, knelt down and began to flood the air around me with a cloud of sweet smoke. And I stood there, holding my Lord and Saviour in my hands while 200 people knelt around me worshipping Him. I could barely move. Everything slowed down to almost a standstill as I simply stared at the Christ in my hands. Afterward, I processed back to the Tabernacle, knelt down and placed the Eucharist back in the Tabernacle.
I reflected on this whole episode later that night and thought, “Why do I not have this same amazement every time I go to Communion? This Eucharist is the same Heavenly Body that I receive during Mass. I should feel this way each time I receive Him.” (For those readers who aren’t Catholic, sorry for the impromptu Theology session. Thanks for sticking with me)
Once Adoration was over, I was slap happy. Francis, the worship leader and I started going back and forth on a very “Barry Whitish” sounding song. I can’t explain it, something came over me. I can tell you, I was probably more entertained than anyone else in the room.
The next day, it was official. At 3:00, the closing Mass finished and I officially became a NET Alumni. What was my first order of business? Fr. Mike provided the Victory Cigar. I can’t think of a better way to cap off my time.
These past 3 years have been phenomenal. I am a different man than the boy who showed up to MN in August 2005. I am a better man and not because of anything I’ve done. I’m better because of the people who surrounded me, the faith that was cultivated and the grace God poured out on me.
What will I take from these 3 years the most? I learned how to pray. I learned how to humbly accept was He’s asking me to do and I’ve learned to trust.
What happens next? Well, after World Youth Day, we’ll all have to tune in and find out.
Thanks for listening…err reading… err thinking… oh, forget it. I’m on vacation.
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