This past week I had the opportunity to attend and event called Reboot! Live! along with students from UW-Superior Catholic Campus Ministry, religious education students from the Cathedral of Christ the King in Superior, and other community members. The event was described as "a fun, inspiring and practical experience for all (ages 12 and up), of applying the beauty and genius of the Gospel to every aspect of your life, from prayer and spirituality,to work, dating, marriage, parenting, health and more!" Chris Stefanick, the keynote speaker for the event, travels across the country giving presentations and we were very lucky to have him here in the northland. The event in Spooner had nearly 1000 participants, from middle-school aged students up through older adults. Chris gave two talks, the second of which included his "seven habits of holy people". Here are the "seven habits of holy people:" college student edition.
1. Love Yourself
In his talk, Chris stressed the importance of loving yourself through both words and actions. Remind yourself that you are important and allow others to do the same. Loving yourself also means taking care of yourself. In the busyness of college, it is easy to skip meals and cut back on sleep. Give yourself permission to relax once in a while and make sure your basic needs are being met.
2. Pray
As a Christian on a public college campus, it can be tempting to stray away from your faith. Make sure to connect with a church community wherever that may be and actually go to church. Try starting and ending each day with a few minutes of prayer. Chris recommended reading through the Gospels a chapter or so at a time. It's amazing how three to five minutes of prayer can change the course of your day.
3. Live a Pure Life
Purity takes many forms. It's important to have pure intentions and be honest with others. Words can hurt or heal- choose them wisely. For those in a dating relationship, have pure intentions as well. Treat your partner as the beautiful person they were created to be.
4. Community
Along with prayer, be sure to find a community that will hold you accountable. I personally have found a second family through Catholic Campus Ministry. We meet once a week to pray and have a meal together. It's a great time for having open discussions about our faith. Whether you connect with a faith based group on campus, or find community elsewhere it is important to have this network of people who love and support you.
5. Forget Yesterday
Don't let one failed assignment or bad day define your entire semester. Every day is an opportunity to start over. If someone hurts you forgive them and move forward. Don't be afraid to forgive yourself.
6. Serve
During his talk, Chris shared the touching story of a friend who died from cancer. She lived in Oregon, a state where euthanasia is legal and in fact labeled as "death with dignity". Giving the choice to end her life or fight through the pain, the woman responded, "my life is not mine to take, it's mine to give". We can have a similar attitude in our daily lives. Think of every second as a chance to serve someone else.
Chris also gave the advice, "stop thinking so big." We often view serving as being a missionary to a foreign country or finding a cure for cancer. As college students, there are so many opportunities to serve on our campus. Take time to help a friend who is struggling. Offer your time to tutor students who may be falling behind, or take notes for a classmate. Simply say hi to someone as you pass them in the hall.
Chris's final advice about serving was to serve the poor. Again, this does not have to mean traveling to a third world country. It can be something as simple as serving a meal at a local soup kitchen or buying lunch for someone in need. Chris presented the idea of carrying grocery cards in your car and distributing them to the homeless or needy that you encounter.
7. Share the Faith
This doesn't mean judging or belittling those who don't share your beliefs. Faith can be spread through actions as well as words. As Chris explained, Mother Teresa did not share the beliefs of Hindus, yet spent her who life serving them. Demonstrate your faith by the way you interact with others.
For more information about Chris Stefanick, resources for living out your faith, and access to the materials presented at Reboot! Live! please visit http://reallifecatholic.com/.
