SEARCH emotions...

So this weekend was SEARCH. It was my second one ever (both times being on staff as a seminarian). But I must say that this one was by far better than the first.

However, the effects didn’t really set in until evening prayer Sunday night. While sitting in adoration before prayer began, I finally read my affirmation cards from the weekend. This was when the emotions came out. That’s right, I had some teary eyes as I found out just how much of a role model I truly am to some of them, affirming a reason for me being at SEARCH—to witness to the love of God through the celibate life (simply put, seminarians can have fun too!).

So yeah, anyone here at the seminary who saw me Sunday night may have thought I was a basket case (or at least something rough has happened) due to my emotions every time I seriously begin to reflect back on this past weekend’s SEARCH retreat. But I guess right now I can echo the words of Janet Self, a first time “searcher”, who said, “I am one of them now”.

But could I really ask for a better way to have ended this weekend? I returned to seminary for a night of silence and reflection on the coming Advent Season. Brooke Engle, another first time “searcher” said, “Today is a new day.” This is so true because with the beginning of Advent, not only do we start a new season, one recalling the incarnation of the Word, but we also start a new Liturgical year. This really is a restart, a reboot. No, I didn’t go into the weekend looking for a new start, like many probably were. Rather, I was merely looking for a reboot or preparation for my finals this week. But I ended up finding so much more, thanks to the many who participated.

Am I on a spiritual high right now? Probably. Will it last? Who knows… All I can do is, as Fr Mark Toupes said tonight, shut up and “be present in the present moment”.