Working In and Out

Extreme Home Makeover was a pretty good show. A big crew gets together, works on house projects, and gives a true makeover to a home that needs it. It's probably safe to say that the end of each episode brings a tear to many an eye. There is always a great spirit among the people that gather to complete the task. Something similar happened here at the MBCE this past weekend. This time, it was the Holy Sprit working in our midst!

The long holiday weekend is a favorite among students, faculty, and staff. Its the first small break of the school year, and it is just long enough for fun and play. This past weekend Marists from across our nation gathered at the Marist Brothers Center at Esopus for the annual LaValla Work Weekend.

Whether it was a revamping of the Rock Room, moving new mattresses into bedrooms, or creating a new downslope path of stairs on property, our students truly gave their all to the weekend. An openness to the meaning of this work, however, was what made their gifts so special. The students didn't do the work because they needed to, but because they wanted to. It was not so much to their own immediate benefit to help build, clean, and transform areas of property. These works would benefit people who came to visit after them, the people who visit our Center throughout the year. In this sense, they labored selflessly.

The focal project this weekend was the completion of the new labyrinth, on land that was cleared during a previous LaValla Work Weekend. It is fitting that the labyrinth, a tool for mediation and prayer, was a central focus. Prayer and meditation were a major part of the process for participants this weekend. Reflecting on the work experience in small groups, individual mediation, and community prayer was the most important part of this weekend. It was even more important than the work itself!

What did you do today? Where was God in today's work? What do you take back with you? What will you do with this experience? What does God ask of you moving forward? These are just a few of the important questions that students reflected on. Thinking of the impact that this weekend has had on students is incredible. Trying to see God in work, relationships, and everyday occurrences is part of the interior work students did this weekend. Students grew this weekend, as did the Marist family.

Our youth are an amazing treasure. Their energy, their willingness to serve, and their openness to God and one another made this weekend a success. "Unless the LORD builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain." (Ps. 127:1) This center is certainly a house that the Lord has built, and this weekend, the builders labored in joy, community, love, and the Spirit. This weekend a group of 80+ were the builders. Others came before and more will come after. I pray that the same Holy Spirit will guide all who labor here to make Jesus known and loved.

New Beginnings, Familiar Place

Oftentimes it is easy to see a single space for what you know it to be. It's easy to see school as JUST school. Work as JUST work. It even becomes easy for us to see life as JUST life. My first week as a volunteer here has reminded me of just how diverse the Marist Brother's Center at Esopus is.

I've been visiting this place, a place I have called home, for about 7 to 8 years now. I felt familiar with it, with how it operates, and with all that goes on here. Having moved in last week and spending a full week volunteering here... so much new information! Whether it was finding a room that I didn't know existed or completing a task I hadn't known about, I learned a lot about this new home of mine.

The Hudson at Black Creek Preserve

Surely a lot of what I did know still stands, but I'm in for a lot of good new experiences during my yearlong volunteer experience. Even learning about the surrounding area has been a change! I got to hike at the Black Creek Preserve (literally down the road from us), and explore New Paltz and Kingston a little bit.

Retreats, meetings, camps, and spiritual activities all occur here. I'm excited to get a look at all that occurs at the Center, and all the good that comes from it.

Allow yourself the opportunity to learn something new about a space that you feel fully familiar with. Start anew in a place you've been for weeks, months, or years. You'll be surprised at what you discover. It's a new beginning in a familiar place.

Talk soon,

-Luis