Some thoughts ...

... during our second Day of Recollection.

(If you don't remember what that is: Every once in a while, the seminary has a mini-retreat called a Day of Recollection. It starts on friday night with the first conference by a guest speaker. We then have all-night adoration where you sign up for a time to be there. Then there are a few more conferences on saturday. From the first conference until the last one, all the seminarians are silent.)

As I was praying during my time of adoration I started thinking about how crazy it was that I am where I am today. Earlier today, I read this man's account of his journey towards the priesthood (Thanks, Mom) and it really showed me that God has a plan for all of us. He has guided me through my life and has brought me to a place I would never have imagined, both literally and spiritually.

Just over four years ago, when I was starting college, if you would have told me that not only would I be involved in tons of Christian activities at Mount Union, but that I would also be starting in the seminary afterwards, I would not have believed you. Even this past April when I visited St. Vincent for the first time, I don't think I actually thought I would ever really be here. But here I am. This whole journey has been unexpected, and the beautiful thing about it is that it didn't just start there.

From the day I was born, God has continually guided me. I have not followed Him all the time, but he has never stopped urging me to conform to His will and drawing me closer to Him. Looking back, I can see all of the tiny steps that He's walked me through, just to make me a little bit more of the person I am supposed to be. I am nowhere near being done, but it is astounding how much you can change in a few years.

Even when I feel bogged down by work or the number years I still have left here, it's hard not to get excited about the future. God has already taken me farther than I thought possible. He's given me a great family, more friends than I could wish for, and experiences that will stick with me forever. I just hope that I can always see "today" as the best day of my life ...

I would write some sort of real autobiography on here, but that just seems really vain for me to do (not that no one should ... I would just feel like I was taking myself too seriously). The point I am trying to make is that God had something in mind when He made us. He has a plan to make us the people He created us to be. We just need to listen and follow.