poor in the eyes of men & women, but rich in the eyes of God

#5 Labre


I am not sure that I can think of a more grace-filled and fulfilling manner in which to spend my Sunday evening, then participating in the St. Benedict Joseph Labre Project. Since 2003, students, parents, benefactors, community members and clergy associated with St. Ignatius High School (Cleveland) have gathered every week to share nourishment and clothing, but most importantly fellowship with those men, women and children living outdoors. By attempting to live the Gospel message of service to others, these volunteers seek and find the true face of Christ by being the most life-giving disciples imaginable. 


I was first introduced to Labre by my JVC roommate, Veronica, who volunteered in various capacities at the Arrupe Neighborhood Partnership. She would often return home late on Sunday evening with so much life, energy and countless stories of those whom she had met that I just had to take up her invitation to join her on a future Sunday. It took one van excursion along the Flatts route and I was hooked. 


It is very difficult for me to explain what actually happens on Labre, other than the necessary food preparation, van packing and send-off gathering in St. Mary's Chapel.  However, I will say this. Once you do Labre once, you will be ruined for life. 


I will leave you with the following words from Jim Skerl (theology teacher at Ignatius, co-founder of the Labre Ministry and one of Cleveland's beloved):


"After you touch the wounds of those in the city tonight, there's no looking back. Cleveland will never look the same again."

Ecuammokalamaica

#6 Immersions


During my time at John Carroll, I was blessed with not one, not two, but THREE unique opportunities to travel to and immerse myself with the people of Ecuador/Immokalee (FLA)/Jamaica. What I discovered amongst my physically impoverished, yet spiritually rich brothers and sisters was nearly indescribable. 

Never before had I been exposed to such material poverty. You cannot prepare yourself adequately for such experiences (and I am not even talking about the suffocating humidity). I undoubtedly grew in humility and gratitude those days and ever since. 

Never before have I drank so much (water), played so much futebol, and felt so welcome in a foreign land. On more than one occasion, I felt like the younger son who, in the biblical account of the Prodigal Son, is showered with love, mercy and a bountiful feast upon his return from squandering his father's inheritance. These people were real and they got it.

I will never forget Jon, the 7-year old boy from Duran, Ecuador whose love for his siblings and mother as well as his incredible skills in the game Memory were bewildering. While their names unfortunately escape me, I will always recall the fond times that I shared in the classroom and outdoors on the school grounds with the students of Pinecrest Elementary School in Immokalee, Florida. Then, of course, there is Paula. Living in an orphanage in Spanish Town, Jamaica, she was a character and a sweetheart all in one breath. It is my hope and prayer that these men, women and children of these communities will continue to realize how precious they are in the eyes and heart of God. They certainly have a special reservation in my own.

when you see two footprints, it was then that I carried you...

#7 Spiritual Direction


Someone once said, and many have repeated, that "the best things in life are FREE!" While this seemingly goes without saying, I cannot think of a more valuable use of my time than engaging in spiritual direction.


For me, spiritual direction has sort of assumed a life of its own over these past six or seven years. I started receiving spiritual direction when I was an undergrad at PC, but have since continued seeking out individuals (both men and women) who I consider to be pretty decent spiritual companions & mentors. To each his/her own, I have learned about true patience, humility, forgiveness and peace through our conversations, correspondences and interactions. I have left their presence smiling from dimple to dimple as well as with tears streaming down my cheeks. 


I am forever grateful for the time, talent and treasures that have been shared with me by these men and women for others and will continue to pray for their heavenly work here on earth. 

wherever two or more are gathered, there I AM

#8  CLCs

These were some of the most meaningful and much-anticipated 50 minutes of my weekly schedule at JCU. Christian Life Communities (CLCs) are a somewhat “hidden” gem on campus and in JCU Campus Ministry. I don't know about my fellow community members, but I could not think of a better way to spend a Sunday evening before 10pm Mass or a Tuesday night after the weekday television lineup than with a community of 8-10 young men and women who were curious, doubtful and on fire about their faith & spirituality. Whether it was grabbing a bite to eat together on P-card or completing a version of Ignatius' Examen or even walking the on-campus prayer Labyrinth at night, this was sacred space and we all knew it.

We have a phrase that we, in JCU Campus Ministry, use when speaking about CLCs—namely cura personalis (translation: care of the whole person). I firmly believe that each one of us, by the end of it all, had our own hungers satisfied and our thirst quenched. Our weekly CLC gatherings, I would argue, provided the environment for such transformations and development as physical, social and spiritual persons. I do hope to become involved one again in a small-faith sharing community. That is (and these CLCs have been) incredibly life-giving to me.


(I just returned from an ad hoc birthday luncheon with several members from my CLC from last year. Clearly, these communities continue to have an impact on my life)

a bad day of basketball beats a good day of work

#9  Pickup Basketball @ Noon

I remember it all too well. The email would go out either the night or morning before. 


Subject line: Basketball TOMORROW (Wed) @ noon


Who's in?


Most recipients would respond in turn. Then, shortly after 12pm each Wednesday, students, faculty, staff and some guests would congregate around the far hoop to prepare for a grueling 90-minutes of up-and-down "bee ball" that often featured some of the top players in the (25-45) age bracket. Certainly, an ego & resume booster! From week to week, different players would have impressive performances, get hurt, be absent, have to leave early, complain about obvious fouls, and even come dressed in unusual attire. Regardless, this was my sanctuary, my safe haven. No matter what sort of week I was having, I could distract myself with this game that I have come to know and adore. 


I never thought I would experience as much JOY playing with "the guys" as I did during those three years. Players like Phil, Marko, and Odell certainly made me work hard for every rebound, basket and victory; however, the one thing that I did not have to work all that hard at was befriending each one of the guys (and a few brave women, especially Katie). They became my basketball family similar to what may be expected amongst a group of high school or college teammates who resolve their differences and coalesce by the end of the season. I was fortunate to have an athletic community such as this one and I am glad that it has continued to grow and remain competitive ever since I left JCU.


(Today, for the first time in over nine months, I returned to the JCU Intramural gymnasium where I played some 3-on-3 pickup basketball just like old times, and boy, did I have a blast!)

the birthday that almost got away...

#10 A "Surprise" Party


I'm not sure how this one didn't make the Plain Dealer?


It was the middle of February last year, and I had been trying to get together with Veronica, Jakey & Chris L. (ref. Monday Night Dinners) for several weeks, but--for one reason or another--our schedules were not aligning. We had finally made some tentative plans earlier in the week to meet either on Friday or Saturday, but no additional details had been discussed. As I began my typical excursion to the west side of Cleveland from JCU, I wasn't exactly sure who, if any of them, was going to show.


While on the westbound train, I received a text message from Veronica indicating that they had decided on starting their night at the Old Angle Tavern on W.25th street (which happened to be one of my first and favorite bars in Ohio City). I remained hopeful that some sort of hang out was still possible. Little did I know (in fact, nothing) about what was about to transpire. 


As I walked towards the OA on a frigid night in February, I began rocking out to my iPod. I was about one block from the bar, when I reached down to tie my shoe lace. Once I returned to my feet, I noticed a figure in the front window of the OA that looked awfully familiar, but I made nothing of it. I continued to walk towards the bar and as I grabbed the door handle, I immediately realized that that figure was no stranger. It had been my roommate, Alison, and she was joined by about twenty or so of my closest companions in Cleveland. 

This gathering was a surprise party for...me! I couldn't believe it. Two of my JVC roommates, current and former Jesuit Volunteers as well as colleagues from John Carroll and Saint Martins were all present. I couldn't believe it. Wait though, it gets better.


Apparently, Veronica had sent a Facebook invite a couple months prior inviting all these great people to come celebrate my birthday in February; however,the odds of keeping this gathering secretive as well as taking place were jeopardized, when a leak about this event surfaced on Facebook and when I nearly booked a trip to reunite with my sisters in Pittsburgh. Somehow I was convinced to stay in Cleveland that weekend. I guess the rest (including some intense rounds of bar bowling and dancing at a local karaoke bar) is history. 


It certainly was a memorable birthday (impressive enough for me to include it in my top ten), and I continue to be grateful for the many relationships that I fostered during my time in Cleveland.

Cleveland update

I find it seemingly laughable, yet quite appropriate that it has been nine months since I packed up and left northeast Ohio. All things considered, I am still in the process of COUNTING DOWN my top 25 moments of my Cleveland tenure. At the very moment that I am writing this entry, I am en route to Cleveland (via Megabus) to reunite with friends, colleagues and professors from the overlapping circles that I was blessed to be a part of during my four-year stay in Cleveland, Ohio.

Prior to, I have documented fifteen of those significant moments in quite some detail; however, I thought it would be most appropriate to BEGIN the top 10 countdown upon my seemingly inevitable return to the two-one-six.

To whet your appetite and for those who have not been keeping track at home, here is a brief recap of Cleveland moments twenty-five through eleven:

#25 Trip to Scotti's Disc Shop

#24 Browns-Bills Blizzard game

#23  Peanut Week @ Hoopples!

#22 Celebrating Halloween with 1st Time Trick or Treaters

#21 Road trips with friends

#20 Midnight Tales with Bert Task

#19 JCU Move-in day

#18 John Mon

#17 My 25th Birthday, WJCU Radiothon & Mardi Gras

#16 Monday Night Dinners

#15 Haircuts @ Ohio City's Barber College

#14 March Madness at the Q

#13 Public transportation blunders

#12  RA-RM connection

#11 Retreats

         

Now, here comes the much-anticipated TOP TEN MOMENTS of my Cleveland experience…

seek God everywhere

#11  Retreats


I am not sure if I could tally--on my fingers and toes--the total number of retreats that I participated in or lead during my stay in Cleveland. For that, I am utterly grateful.


Some have been silent, others have included seemingly endless games of Mafia, while one ended in a particular field of dreams. 

I do not believe that it is ironic that I was hired by my current principal to serve as a high school Campus Minister this school year. In fact, I consider it grace. However, it was these fruitful days, weekends, and oftentimes weeks of spiritual exercise and community building that has filled me with a hefty ministerial backpack. These diverse experiences have prepared me for all the many spiritual discourses that I have become privy to in addition to the many crosses that I have been asked to bear. There are certainly reasons why I retreat, but I am not always aware of every one of them. 

Retreats have been--and probably always will be--a wonderful opportunity for me to take time out of my hectic life to be grateful for as well as re-evaluate my physical and spiritual health. They have been encounters with my God that I will warmly welcome in the future, especially if the registration fee (which it has occasionally) is waived.


For whether it is writing letters/notes to my fellow retreatants on my first "silent" retreat or helping freshmen students make connections with one another, I am going to keep looking for God in everyone & everything. It's the Ignatian (and my) way!

Murphy's HamCam

#12 The RM - RA Connections


After serving as a resident assistant (RA) for three years at Providence College, I never thought I would again interact so intimately with RAs. That is, until I applied to be a resident minister (RM) at John Carroll University four years ago. 


Whether it was through times of severe ignorance (it took me over a year to realize that my apartment in Murphy Hall came equipped with a light switch dimmer), belly-aching joy (our styrofoam sword-fighting competitions between the Hamlin & Campion staffs) or inexplicable tragedy (two student deaths), each RA--in his or her own unique way--challenged me to be a better minister, leader and neighbor. It comes as no surprise to me that some of my fondest memories arise from staff orientation, 1-on-1s and our weekly reflection time. It was then that we were most transparent, open and, to quote Fr. H.Paul Kim, “fully alive.” I hope that, like me, they had the time of their lives.


Here's to all the charming, dedicated and downright hysterical RAs of Murphy, Hamlin & Campion Halls who fostered floor community, designed engaging programs, and sat duty all those endless evenings. This one's for YOU and your sanity.

RTA, all the way...

#13 Public Transportation Blunders


Before you say anything, you need to understand something about me. 


I have become VERY frugal, when it comes to air & ground travel. 

This was seemingly most evident during my JVC year in Cleveland, when I took the city's buses to (and oftentimes from) Saint Martin de Porres High School regardless of the inclement weather. At first, was I hesitant and scared? You betcha. Did I often call one of my co-workers or assistant principal (Sutliff) for a ride? At will. Did I look under couches, use up one of our community bus passes, and--on a couple occasions--walk home from Tower City? Unabashedly, yes.


While there are TOO MANY stories to share in this entry, I will share with you some of the most outlandish of transportation tales...


1. A group of JCU students and I rode our bicycles down to the Rapid station around 6am for a funeral procession via bike. Unbeknownst to us, the train conductors cannot allow more than TWO bicycles on board during the early morning commute! Those of us who deemed "capable" of riding 20+ miles downtown (in the dark) were not too thrilled about this news, yet complied (attn: Callie).


2. Since I still consider Amtrak to be a form of public transportation, this episode made the list. I had purchased a round-trip (CLE-BOS) train ticket for the Christmas holiday and had convinced my JVC roommate, Veronica, to wake up at an insane hour and drive me to the Cleveland Amtrak station, which is hidden below the passageway to Browns Stadium. We left early enough to park and even grab a coffee; however, we had the darnedest time locating the actual entrance into the train station. It was not until the actual train starting whistling and gearing up that I started to really panic. I told Veronica to let me out about 50 yards from the actual station, yanked my rolling-luggage from her trunk, and booked it to the station, all while trying to keep my baggy tear-away pants above my waist. Necessary to say, I leaped up the slick and narrow steps of my respective train car, as I let out an incredible sigh. (Unfortunately, my Amtrak adventure had only just begun. Over the course of the next 20 hours, we had struck a truck carrying chickens and had to wait 2.5 hours for the police to file an accident report on board, were kept up by several loud passengers and rolled into South Station in Boston four hours LATE).


3. Just about every other nightmarish encounter with particular personnel and passengers aboard Greyhound Bus Lines (enough said).


4. I fell asleep at least once on the Green Line (heading back to JCU) and had to walk two or so miles in the pouring rain sans umbrella.


5. All the moments when I spent too long staring at another rider or eves-dropping another passenger's conversation. If I only could have turned my head or iPod on quicker!


May those who find themselves sharing their personal space or coming up a quarter short or even waiting too long for the next bus/train know that God has a special reserved seat for you in heaven. Safe travels...

we be dancin' at the Q

#14 Some Unlikely March Madness


I believe it was Langston Hughes who once inquired "what happens to a dream deferred? does it dry up like a raisin in the sun or fester like a sore?" Well, Langston, I must say that last March, my wait for making it to the BIG DANCE (the NCAA Div. 1 Men's Basketball Tournament) was finally over. Here's the long and short of what happened on the afternoon, and soon after evening, of March 18th 2011...


I had just finished up my day of interning as school counselor at Roxboro Middle School in Cleveland Heights, OH and was headed to JCU's St. Francis Chapel in order to lead a group of undergrads to a local fish fry on the second Friday of Lent. Suddenly, my cell started vibrating in my pocket. It was my co-supervisor at Roxboro and new pal, David Peake. I wonder what David is calling about? I picked the call and, boy, am I glad I did. David frantically asked me if there was any way that I could escape from my Friday night plans, which I had shared with earlier that day. I immediately asked him why and what he had in mind. Unable to contain his excitement, David informed me that our colleague at Rox, Jeanne, had TWO FREE tickets to the Ohio State/UTSA at the Quicken Loans Arena, and he wanted to know if I might want to join Jeanne and him for the game tonight. Wow! I could not believe it. I muffled some disheartened comments about how I wish I could go and whether or not he knew someone else who could use the ticket. Then, in a moment of pure genius, I told him to hold on and that I would call him back momentarily. I ran as fast as I could to Sutowski Hall, where my fellow resident minister, Koli, lived. She had fortuitously just exited the building, as I approached and asked her to do me a BIG favor (cover for me at the fish fry tonight). Without hesitation, she agreed and wished me well. I couldn't believe it. I called David back and shared with him the great news. Unfortunately, I came to find out that he was not in the neighborhood and in fact, was almost downtown. He told me that the tickets would be at will-call, so I scurried to my friend's unconvincingly reliable car and sped to the Q. I did scarf down a fish fillet sandwich and small fry from McDonald's en route, because it was Friday during Lent and I did not want to pay an arm and a leg for food at the arena. When I finally arrived at the will-call, I received a text message from David (that I still have saved on my phone to this day):


From: David Peake
Got tx to the next game too. Wanna stay?
Mar 18, 5:37pm


By now, I am sure you know my response to that easy question. As I made my way to my seat, I was moved by the electricity in the Q as well as the sea of Ohio State fans whose red apparel flooded my vision. I immediately, gave David and Jeanne handshakes and hugs and plopped down in my seat. I still couldn't believe this was happening? Incredible. 


While Ohio State was blowing out their  opponent in the middle of the second half, Jeanne leaned over towards David and I and shared with us some additional news. She informed us that she and her date would be leaving the Q shortly after the first game. We could have all four of their tickets to the the third and final game of the evening (Syracuse vs. Indiana State)! David and I just gawked at what had taken place over these past couple of hours. 

As the night continued to unfold, David and I got the opportunity to learn more about each other and shared our own play-by-play and color commentaries. By about midnight, we were beat, after watching about seven hours of intense collegiate basketball. At that hour, I had assumed an attitude of deep gratitude not only for my serendipitous attendance at the NCAA tourney, but also for the birth of a new friendship with David. I don't think David or I will ever forget that memorable March night at the Q.