Madness and Chaos

Gun’s Quote-of-the-Week:

“How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.”

-Annie Dillard

If someone were to ask how I spend my life, I would response with the title of this week’s Gun’s Quote… Madness and Chaos.

Last week I spent my week with a bunch of teenagers from Holy Trinity in Lenexa. It was their annual summer trip and I was a chaperone. While there, the theme of the conference which was repeated time and time again was, “Be Present.”

It’s the idea that we should be focused on the “now” because it is the only “now” we are going to get.

This summer has been a real reality-check in terms of this idea.

This is the last year of my twenties, an idea that I don’t necessarily relent but one of which I’m well aware. Life is also in the midst of large changes. This summer, virtually all of my best friends, including my roommate, will be married. The ones that aren’t have either strongly considered or are actively discerning their vocation to the Priesthood. Some that I’m used to seeing weekly are moving away. My 10-year high school reunion is this fall.

Of course, none of these things are bad things. As a matter of fact, most are terrific things! I mention them only to give context to this idea: Perhaps the most certain thing in life is that of change.

That’s why I can’t help but busy myself on the people in my life right now. I’m spending lots of money to fly to out-of-town weddings. I’m trying to be more present to roommates. Thank God for online bill pay or else I’d probably be in trouble; I’ve not spent much time going through the mail piling up on my desk. My priorities have shifted to making sure that my schedule is packed with as much quality time with others as possible because reality is that my relationships need attention in the midst of their change. Reality is that I won’t be seeing some people nearly as often after this summer.

Reality is that these relationships are changing.

This is the middle of the summer. It’s all downhill from here. At least for me, this is the one time of the year when people are most able to get away and most willing to get out. I really feel the need to tell you to take advantage of this time. OK, so it’s cheesy, but I don’t care: Tell your family you love them not by words but by spending time with them. Do the same with your friends. Take an active role in their lives and invite them into your own. After all, we only have this moment in which to live. We don’t know what tomorrow will bring and the past is irrelevant. Look at now and live in it, even if it’s hard, even if you have better things to do, and even if it makes your head spin. If you don’t, you will eventually regret it.

You only get THIS moment once. Take care of it.

…and that’s why it’s a Gun’s Quote!