Firework

It’s finals time around here at Franciscan University. Thus concluding the longest semester of my life. It’s also Christmas time, which makes people generally more nostalgic. So it’s a good time to reflect, to look back on the semester, on our lives. To wonder if we’re just wasting our time, just wishing it away. This thoughtful attitude helped me come up with the idea for this post, which I have been sitting on for a long time.

Waaaaaay back at the beginning of the semester, I went on a retreat for the musicians who play at Mass. And on the way there, I was talking to this girl named Jenn. For some reason, we got on the topic of Katy Perry’s song, “Firework.” And she brought up something that I thought was good enough to share with you, four(ish) months later.

Keep Me in Your Atmosphere

The other day (Sunday, I think) I went to mass. In the homily, the priest said something to the effect of: “People always say to me in Confession: ‘I fail to put God in the center of my life. But, honestly, I don’t know what it means to put God in the center of one’s life. And, judging from the blank stares I get when I ask them how they could constructively do this, neither do they. I think this calls for a change in perspective. I would suggest that you try to put yourself at the center of God’s life.”

Wise Blood

BLOOD IS A curious thing. It moves throughout you, without a sound. Like a thief in the dead of night. Except instead of taking thing, it leaves things. Oxygen. Life. God kind of works in the same way, quietly dispensing graces. Life. God is a curious thing…

Just Keep Me Where The Light Is

GRANDPARENTS ACROSS THE WORLD RAVE ABOUT “SWANLICIOUS”:

“we read it and think it is really great. she is a really gifted writer and knows how to empasize the important things in life, namely the virtues of humility. she has a god gifted talent.”

THEY KNOW. My mom (who liked it) sent it to my grandparents…which doesn’t really seem like the logical step to me, but whatever. I like that people are reading, but I just kind of feel bad, because they don’t know who John Mayer is, and this factor may limit their comprehension of the material. Also, I am planning on referencing him a lot more….sorry, grandparents.

John Mayer Theology

Hello imaginary audience. You are undoubtedly wondering why I am standing here in front of my blog, guarded by this giant ribbon, holding a giant pair of scissors. No — it’s not a suicide attempt. I’m cutting the ribbon. I know you’re excited. I’m excited too.

Except I have a myriad of anxieties about blogs. I’m good at writing, but something about talking about my petty little life makes me seem whiny or preachy or…just generally undesirable. And I’m amusing in person – oh yeah, I’m hilarious – but does that translate well to blogs? I don’t know. Even now it seems like I must try extremely hard to win you, dear audience. Look at this jaunty prose. Nice rhythm. Are you having fun yet?

I am.