Eliminate physical clutter. More importantly, eliminate spiritual clutter. ~D.H. Mondfleur

This past weekend I took 60 freshmen and sophomore students on a retreat that was led by 12 juniors. Now, many of my own family members and friends are very good about recentering their own spirituality by going on retreats. I must say, I don't do that. I think the last overnight retreat I attended was when I was in FrancisCorps. Although, I find that ministering is a challenge to my faith and a unique opportunity to reflect on my own spirituality. These retreats are, in some way, my way of taking a step back and letting my students teach me.

The theme song for the weekend was a song called Majestic. There is one part that says "I Will Worship You!" It is funny, the song is very Jesus-y. But, I know these kids well enough to know that they are just normal teenagers. The kind that we all roll our eyes or curse at in malls. The kind that skip out on leaving tips at a restaurant. The kind that fall in love for a week and then do it again next week. And yet, watching these kids stand in a circle and joyfully sing the words "We will worship You!" makes them seem so innocent. So, simple.

I know many of you have your own children and you can see how they grow up so fast. I know these kids for 4 years of their lives, if I am lucky. And in those 4 years, they are pressured to be all the things I pray they don't become. But, over the course of one weekend, I can step back and see how powerful and inspiring God's love is. I can sit back and feel like what I do, all I teach can make a difference in their lives. I don't know the spirituality of each one of you who read this, but I know that being able to see how God can work in the course of one weekend makes me want to open my eyes more to all He does. These kids may not always be able to focus on Him in their lives but they will always know that He did at one point. And maybe that will be enough for them to search for Him a little more. I know it was enough for me.