The Whale Shark
by Mary Kaim (May ’01)
“The whale shark. Oh, I know this one! What is the world’s largest fish? Thank you Alex, I’ll take my $500 now. Wait a minute, this is pathetic, I’ve actually memorized all the Jeopardy answers. And even worse, I’m talking to Alex Trebeck. What else can I do around here … ever since the N64 broke, there’s just nothing to do anymore….”
Does this sound familiar to you? If it does, then all I have to say to you is TURN OFF THE TV!!! You have about three months free from the life of desks, books, and annoying teachers. What are you going to do with it? Yes, you could waste it sleeping until lunch, watching TV till dinner and going out till breakfast, but where will that get you? Sometimes it seems that when school ends and everything starts to slow down, our spiritual lives do, too. Do you think Christ cares that it is summer? Do you think He stops watching just because your teachers did? To me, and I’m sure for many others, summer is a struggle for us Christians. No longer do we have a normal routine, filled with responsibilities; in place of that we are given a whopping load of free time. Free time is the root of all evil. Ok, maybe I’m being a little drastic. I mean hey, we’ve been working for nine months straight; we deserve some free time. But, TOO MUCH free time really is the root of all evil. It is when we have nothing to do that we end up wasting our time doing things that more often than not, slow us down on the highway to Heaven.
Having an idle mind is like giving an open invitation for Satan to come on in. It’s too easy for him to find ways to slip in, when we aren’t occupying ourselves with productive things. Besides, as we all know, each day is a gift from God, and as they say, “Life is short.” Time is too valuable to waste. So right now you’re probably thinking I sound like your mom. You’re tired of hearing, “Turn off the TV and do something useful.” So what is it that you should do? It’s simple…pack up for three months and head off to Africa as an Orthodox missionary.
Ok, maybe not everybody is cut out for that, but let’s think more realistically. What can you do this summer? First of all I would like to take this time to remind everybody that, contrary to popular belief, church does NOT shut down over the summer. True, Teen SOYO slows down as do many other organizations at church, however all church services continue on as they always have. Keeping your church attendance steady is a start, but now that school is over and the “I have way too much homework tonight” excuse doesn’t fly anymore, maybe you can make those weeknight services that we couldn’t get to before. Or even simpler, maybe now that our lives have slowed down, it’s a good time to start good habits. School used to provide us with a sense of discipline and schedule, now why don’t we use our morning and evening prayers to discipline ourselves. It only takes two weeks to make a habit of something, so when school starts we will be so used to this schedule, it will be set for life. Or how about that Bible collecting dust on the bookshelf? I mean really, if you don’t use your brain at all this summer, it’s not gonna just magically turn itself on come September. Why not keep it in shape while reading the Good Book? Maybe you’re ahead of me… you already have a prayer routine and read the Bible. Maybe you could try out some other books. Do you know how many books are out there written by the Church Fathers? These books and the Bible are the books that will help you move along that highway to Heaven.
What’s that? Even after all this you still have some free time? Ok, what else? Did you ever think about asking your parents if they needed help? I mean seriously, work doesn’t stop for them; when do they ever get a break? If your mom is anything like my mom, I’m sure when you ask she will easily find something for you to do. Not only will you be occupying yourself and stopping that invitation to the devil, but you’ll be helping out and gaining major responsibility points with your parents. And on the small chance that your parents will have absolutely nothing for you to do, there is still plenty you can do. Baby-sit, mow lawns, or volunteer. As I’m sure you’ve been told many times, all of us have been given our special talents. We are all talented. How selfish of us to take what God has given us and keep it to ourselves. Whatever it is you are good at, find a way to use it. Have musical talent? Perform at the local nursing home. Like to work with kids? Volunteer for summer camp at the Y. Like to swim? Give lessons. Whatever it is that you can do, there is something for you to do with it.
Ok, so now you’re thinking, “All this sounds great, but when do I get to have any fun?” Well, first of all, hard work, especially when you are working for others, can turn out to be a lot of fun. Nonetheless, there is nothing wrong with going out and having fun. Now is the perfect time to get together with other Orthodox Christians and hang out. Remember, where one or two are gathered in His name, there He is also. The more time you spend together the closer you will grow. Together you can have fun; and because you are all Orthodox Christians, you can help each other keep moving up that Highway.
If you’ve tried all of that and you STILL have nothing to do, then drive down to your church, track down your priest, and say, “Father, I have way too much time on my hands, what can I do to help around here?” I know he’ll keep you busy.
So, now I’ll leave you to make your summer plans, but just remember, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as if for the Lord, not for men” (Colossians 3:23).
Why We Do What We Do by Christa Shalhoub (Oct. ’01)
Helping at soup kitchens, feeding the hungry, walking for cancer, going to Project Mexico, building homes for Habitat for Humanity, visiting the sick, comforting the elderly, mentoring young children, collecting clothes and canned foods for the needy, raising money for the church community…
I could list all different ways that we can each individually give of ourselves to do good deeds towards others. In fact these good deeds can be considered beneficial and pleasing to both society, to our local communities, to our church, and to God. I would even go as far as saying that participating in these good deeds might even instruct others through our example. St. Ignatius, one of the most well known and highly venerated saints in our church taught this:
“Therefore let them be instructed by you, at least by your deeds” (Ignatius to the Ephesians 10:1). In doing so, he tells us that we all have been given the ability as human beings to carry out the action of doing good to others. But unless an individual knows the reason and the rational behind setting an example of doing good deeds, the actions of that person are meaningless.
St. Ignatius tells us that we are to instruct others by our deeds, but what exactly is it that are we to instruct? It is this question that I would like to address today.
The first point I would like to make is that we should instruct according to the teaching of Jesus Christ. Jesus taught us to “Seek first the kingdom of God and all his righteousness” (Matthew 6:33). These words of Jesus to His disciples were the basis for everything the disciples did. This was also the theme for my local SOYO a few years ago. For example, every year we go on a ski retreat as a youth group. One year we decided to hold it at Antiochian Village. The theme for the retreat was “Climbing the Ladder toward Salvation.” Fr. Michael Nasser, the camp director, taught us that our life is like climbing a ladder. He told us that each rung of the ladder represents a different characteristic of our humanity, and by struggling to reach the top of the ladder we become closer to what is at the top waiting for us: Jesus Christ. The Lord gives us the opportunity and the ability to be with Him in heaven. This is our goal…To gain salvation for our lives. In everything we do it is so important to keep our hearts and minds set at reaching the top of the ladder. And it is this that we should teach by the good deeds that we do. By seeking first, God’s kingdom, we have the Christian motivation that we need to instruct others. I was taught that obtaining salvation is a gift from God. If we abuse our power to do good things for our own selfish reasons, then we fall down the ladder. It is what we choose to do with the opportunity, and our diligence in doing it, that is going to help us accomplish our goal as human beings… to be with Christ in heaven. Our goal should be to instruct others to obtain salvation through the example of what we do.
Knowing then, what we are to instruct, (salvation), the next step is to know how we are to instruct. In the book of Matthew, Christ said that “ Where your treasure is, there will be your heart” (Matthew 6:22). But before sharing God’s treasure with others, you must obtain this treasure in your own heart first. How do you do this? To obtain treasure in your own heart you must stay true to yourself. Others can only learn from you if you truly believe in what you are doing. Otherwise you will not be true to yourself, and you will come across as a hypocrite. For example, some people love to preach. They love to tell others all the things to do to be a good Christian. Yet, they will also be the first to do exactly the opposite of what they tell others to do. In this case, others are instructed that what you say has no bearing on what you do. Other people can see the hypocrisy that this creates. Before instruction can take place, it must be practiced by the teacher. I can’t teach someone to ride a bike, if I myself don’t know how to ride one. To teach, you must be educated. As I look towards my future I hope to become a lawyer, someone who can defend, protect, and serve my community. But how can I defend the laws if I don’t know them. Instruction is a learned behavior that is developed within the heart and taught to others from the heart.
So far, we have discussed what to instruct… salvation, and how to instruct…from our hearts. Now comes the hard part, when do we instruct? Do we instruct only when we are at church? Do we instruct only when are parents are around? Do we instruct only when our priest comes walking by? Absolutely not! Christ taught that by doing good and loving your neighbors, your reward will be great (Luke 6:35). The fact of the matter is, that we are called as Christians to instruct always. We should never stop. This is the hardest part of what St. Ignatius was preaching, and this is why people have such a hard time doing it; they are scared. Scared of what you might ask? Scared of being judge and scared of being rejected.
I started my junior year off at a brand new school. That is a very hard thing for teenagers to do. Knowing that some teenagers can be very hurtful, I went into my new school feeling shy, nervous, and a little less outgoing than usual. Basically, I was fearful that I would be judged by my new classmates if I showed my true self. However, realizing I must meet people and move on with this new experience, I joined the Christian club, hoping to find acceptance from other Christians. However, the first thing I noticed was how quickly even these Christian teens judged me when I spoke up during my initial visit. The leader was talking about being saved and how important it is that a person must have an exact day and time of acknowledging their salvation. Being Orthodox, I have always been told that we are not only saved once, but are in a continual process of being saved. Therefore, I simple asked a question regarding why he was stressing the importance of a specific date. At this point, my stomach sank as I heard the entire room erupt with condescending remarks. I was simply trying to learn and clarify in my own mind what I have been taught, and I was torn apart for doing so by my Christian peers. It took me a very long time after that to build up the nerve to speak again, and an even longer time for others to freely welcome me into the group.
I also had another experience at my new high school. As a new student I found it hard to make friends. No one would really talk to me in fear that their friends would see them talking to the “new kid.” However, I did meet new people and eventually found my little niche. I soon began to feel comfortable with my new surroundings. One day while sitting in class, a new student walked in. Remembering what is was like to feel scared and alone, I did the only thing I could think of…I introduced myself to her. I remembered how all it took was just one person who went out of her way to talk to me that made me feel comfortable, and I wanted to do the same for her. Because of someone else’s example I was instructed. This is the instruction that St. Ignatius asks us to give to others. To instruct the things that we have learned from others, by putting them into practice in our own lives. True instruction cannot take place unless it comes from a heart that has been filled with an understanding of the mission of who we are as Orthodox Christians. If we instruct others by our deeds, one day we will be united to God.
So my challenge to each and every one of us is to…go help at soup kitchens, go feed the hungry, go walk for cancer, go to Project Mexico, go build homes for Habitat for Humanity, go visit the sick, go comfort the elderly, go mentor young children, go collect clothes and canned foods for the needy, go raise money for the church community. But go knowing the instruction we are called to share with others must be based on the principle of our Orthodox calling as human beings to one day reach our ultimate goal: salvation.
Project Mexico
by Andrea Kreidler and Ana Yelland (Mar. ’02)
Spring Break is right around the corner! College students look forward to this time of year, and even high school students dream of what they’ll do for Spring Break once they get to college. There’s no shortage of popular vacation spots – like New Orleans for Mardi Gras or Cancun for the sunny beaches or Colorado for snow skiing. You’ve seen the videos and commercials about these places – don’t they look like fun? You want to go there when you can, right? These are places people have told us are a blast. However, some of the personal stories we have heard have cast a different light on the Spring Break experience. They have ended up doing things that they might not usually have done in their everyday lives, such as over-the-top partying and anything and everything immoral that one might imagine with it. The time spent inebriated, thinking unclearly, fills the space where the Lord should be.
What in turn do you bring back from a vacation like this? How does a vacation like this fill you spiritually? What memories do you have, if you have any at all? You might have a few laughs about something ridiculous that happened or a vague memory of someone you met. To some people this might seem like fun, and society certainly portrays Spring Break as one wonderful, selfindulgent experience. However, the leftover emptiness that one will feel continues to exist, only on an even greater level. Is this what people should dream about doing – being spiritually unfulfilled and in need of confession and repentance?
Do we really want to seek pleasure that leaves us with an empty void? This is not true fun, nor does it enrich us as individuals. More importantly, it also goes against all of our Orthodox values and everything we have been taught as Orthodox Christians. We considered all of this, and frankly, we’d like to tell you about some vacation spots that, to us, are ten times better and more fulfilling than either Cancun or Mardi Gras. When it comes time for you to make your decision about Spring Break, how about spending a week in beautiful Guatemala, or serene Rosarita, Mexico? If staying inside the borders of the United States would be more to your liking, then there is sunny San Francisco or New York. These are all places included in a program called Real Break and Project Mexico. Real Break is just that, a break away from the everyday temptations that each of us as young adults encounters each day. This might not sound as exciting to you right now, but let us tell you a little bit about one of them.
“... for I was hungry and you gave me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me…” (Matthew 25:35-36)
Project Mexico is a program designed to help less fortunate people. We were both given the opportunity to go to Project Mexico at separate times. Our experiences are paralleled with nothing else we have ever done before. The ranch where Project Mexico is based is located in Rosarita. This ranch, which is an Orthodox mission, was designed to be an orphanage for boys with troubled lives. The boys learn life skills and responsibility in an Orthodox setting. This prepares them for life outside of the orphanage. Last year a group of us from numerous colleges and churches worked together in a faith-filled atmosphere doing numerous projects for the ranch. It was a chance to meet new people, work hard, and try to make a difference in someone’s life. And it just might surprise you and make a huge impact in your life as well. Some of the things we did last year included putting new doors on the boys’ rooms, insulating the ceilings, and laying cement for the floors. We painted walls and ceilings, made a sidewalk from the kitchen to the boys’ rooms, added stucco to a previously built house, and did many other small tasks. Boy, doesn’t that sound like a lot of work? Well, you’re right. It is hard work, but the experience is well worth it. You might be asking yourself, “Why would I want to pay to go work?” That’s a good question. The work is only a fraction of the experience. The experience is about helping others in the name of the Lord. This alone is worth it.
One moment that stands out in my mind is when we gave the boys some extra things they needed. The reaction and looks on their faces were amazing. Something we take for granted was put right there in front of them, and it made us realize how much we are blessed. We bonded well with the boys at the orphanage even though there was a large language barrier. One day we played soccer with them. Let me tell you, they're good! We enjoyed a restful evening with the boys eating s’mores and singing a few songs around the campfire. Besides the work and time spent with the boys, we had numerous discussions with Fr. Michael Nasser which were very enlightening. Not only did we go to a place with our brothers and sisters in Christ from all over the U.S., but also when we left we had bonded together as true brothers and sisters, as lifelong friends.
Whether it is turning a stable into an orphanage for boys with troubled lives or building sidewalks, the experience is so moving that it fills you with the Holy Spirit. When you return to your regular life, you feel that the people you helped have made a giant impact on your life and the way you will live it. The people you went to help actually helped you more than they would ever know. We know it has changed our lives tremendously. The time spent in Mexico was filled with prayer, fellowship, and quite a bit of work. But if we had to make a decision between getting trashed or being brought closer to God, we would pick the latter.
The best thing about this is that as a high school student, you don’t even have to wait until you’re in college to participate in Project Mexico. You can do it now! And when you’re in college, you’ll have that and Real Break opportunities from which to choose. Remember what we have said about the emptiness you might feel in your everyday life. The opportunity is there to overflow your heart with God’s love. The overwhelming flow of love and fulfillment that an experience such as Project Mexico or a Real Break will give you is unparalleled. And don’t forget, while it is nice to experience Mexico, Guatemala, or San Francisco, an opportunity to help someone might be hidden in your very own backyard. Christian ministry is needed everywhere. Help others and help yourself.