Your future is a story unwritten By CHARLIE MARTIN -
FRANCISCAN SISTER Adele Thibaudeau files the fingemails of Reggie Griffin at a daytime center for the homeless in Milwaukee in March. (eNS photo by Sam Lucero, Catholic Herald)
Nail ministry to homeless clips stereotypes one nail at a time MILWAUKEE (CNS) - Three ing their hands and doing their nails." For those on the receiving end, years ago, two Franciscan Sisters wanted to find an outreach project well-manicured nails are a welcome for college students in their campus service, especially for those trying to find jobs. MacCanon Brown, the ministry programs. With the assistance of Repairers shelter's executive director, said the of the Breach, a daytime homeless real benefit ofthis ministry is putting shelter in Milwaukee, they nailed Catholic social teaching into action. Repairers ofthe Breach operates down a unique project. Each month, students from Car- out of a three-story brick building. dinal Stritch University and Mount In addition to giving homeless men Mary College offer nail grooming to and women a place to relax and enhomeless men and women who visit joy a snack or coffee; the shelter ofRepairers ofthe Breach. While hav- fers a literacy program, worship sering fingernails trimmed and polished vices, employment assistance, and sounds like frills reserved for movie alcohol and drug recovery programs. stars, the two sisters who started the Free clothing and shoes are also nail ministry see it as an important available to the needy. For some of the students, it's the service on many levels. ''The most important thing for our first time they have spoken to homestudents is to see others as an exten- less people, and according to the sion, a reflection ofthe divine," said campus ministers many stereotypes Sister Stella DeVenuta, a Sister of are quickly shattered. '~I've heard students, say things St. Francis ofAssisi, who is director ofcampus ministry at Mount Mary . like, 'I didn't know that we had so College. "I really feel that it gives many people'in our city who were students'the opportunity to see the homeless,'or 'I was surprised how face ofChrist in other people that many of those people were eduthey wouldn't necessarily come into cated,'" said Sister DeVenuta. "It alcontact with on a one-to-one basis. , lows them to see .., through someIt makes a big difference when one else's eyes, through someone you're looking in their faces, hold- else's hands."
UNWRITTEN I am unwritten, can't read my mind, I'm undefined I'm just beginning, the pen's in my hand, ending unplanned Staring at the blank page before you Open up the dirty window Let the sun illuminate the words that you cannot find Reaching for something in the distance So close you can almost taste it Release your inhibitions Refrain: Feel the rain on your skin No one else can feel it for you Only you can let it in No one else, no one else Can speak the words on your lips Drench yourself in words unspoken Live your life with arms 'wide open Today is where your book begins The rest is still unwritten I break traditions. Sometimes my tries are out~ide the lines We've been conditioned to not make mistakes, but I can't live that way Staring, at the blank page before you Open up the dirty window Let the sun illuminate the words that you cannot find Reaching for something in the distance So close you can almost taste it Release your inner visions (Repeat refrain twice) Sung by Natasha Bedingfield Copyright (e) 2004 by BMG International A few weeks ago, I featured Natasha Bedingfield's "These Words." Now getting airplay is her debut disc's title cut "Unwritten."
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Listening to the song prompts the question: How will you create the story of your life? As you experience your teen years, you may feel like the song's character who says, "I'm undefined, I'mjust beginning; the pen's in my hand, ending unplanned." If so, this is good. Now the world awaits your greatest act ofcreation,
physics, your teacher probably has told you that 2005 is the "Year of Physics." It marks the 100 year anniversary of Einstein's greatest contributions to modern science. Einstein dared to think "outside the lines," and whole new vistas of understanding into the nature of our physical universe unfolded. Every person is endowed by God with a creative spirit. Allow God's Wisdom and creativity to flow through you as you dare to imagine the special ways you can help the rest of us become better. "We've been conditioned to not make mistakes, but I can't live that way." Amen! To be afraid ofmaking a mistake is to be afraid to do much at all. In my own life, there have been occasions when I wondered if certain endeavors would be a mistake. Indeed, as I went ahead, at times it became clear that I had made a mistake. Yet, my mistakes became my teachers, showing me more about who God made me to be. When my mistakes have hurt others, I needed to recognize my error, apologize and make amends. These are the types ofmistakes that all of us can attempt to limit. However, most other mistakes are pathways ofdiscovery. At times I have failed thoroughly, but from such experiences I was able to redirect my life in new and more satisfying ways. The power to create exists in the present, not in the past. Keep creating in ways that keep adventure in your life and thus help the rest of us become better. Compose your story with passion;' generosity and love. This honors the goodness that your creator placed within you. Your co'mments are always welcome. Please write to me at: "cllmartin@5windiana.net or at 7125W200S, Rockport, IN 47635.
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the story of your life. To write the story that can only be yours, you might want to note some of Bedingfield's advice. These lines from the song offer guidance: "Release your inhibitions." Inhibitions that caution you not to harm yourselfor others or to break a relationship with God are helpful. But don't diminish what your life can be through narrow or nega: tive thinking. Instead, focus on the grandest vision you can imagine. See yourself creating a positive difference with your life. Write your story in ways that help the rest of,ils become better. " '''I break traditions. Sometimes my tries'are outside the lines." To stay inside the lines is to color your life by others' perceptions. Find the courage to be daring, to be bold. For example, consider the life of Albert Einstein. If you are taking
Lessons learned from a new puppy By KASE JOHNSTUN CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE
A new puppy has entered my home. This is my first real try at being responsible for another being's well-beingin this case, an indoor tornado that swept through every room in the house. It is a challenge that I did not prepare for well enough. Now I understand why God made puppies so cute. That way we forgive them when they chew up every favorite item of ours' in the house, including fingers, hands and legs. I have gotten more visually frustrated in the last month than I have in ye,ars. My frustration comes when
she barks, growls and bites me with angry eyes and a mean stance. If I put her in timeout, she looks at me with, yes, those puppy-dog eyes, and my eyes melt and I show her my love, petting her. If I had to lay a bet on it, I would say she does something nal.lghty every two to three minutes. This is great. I know, it doesn't sound like a long time, but it used to be every 20 to 30 seconds. Then she bites me and barks at me, leaving me guessing what I . did to deserve her' outward expression of anger. I feed her. I pet her. I give her treats. I keep her from eating things that will hurt
her. I look after her every second of the day. I go to bed exhausted. She has drained all my energy, but in the morning when I let her out of her crate
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or flge she is really sweet; cuddling with me. She is so cute that I always love and forgive her for the naughty bite that she likely will give me in the next two to three minutes. This is just a dog. Think
about a baby, then think about a teen-ager. I admit that as a teen-ager I was the biggest pain. At every chance, I barked and growled at my parents, and they stood back asking what they ever did to deserve my outward burst of anger toward them. Of course, growing up and leaving home was something like being let out of my crate, and now ,see " my love again. They forgive me, and I don't even have puppy eyes. And this is just a guy in his 20s. Think about all of us on the planet. We bare our teeth anytime we are offended. We bark and growl at each other on telephones, through
telephones, across oceans. We pay to watch others growl and bark, and we enjoy it. We set our TV timers to record people betraying each other on television, and we cheer for our favorites. As Christians, if we are that small puppy chewing on the shoes of the world, then every day we are doing what we are not supposed to do. Unfortunately, we don't have those puppy-dog's eyes to look up to God with and ask for forgiveness. Still, and very fortunately, every morning we have the opportunity to change, and we can indeed look up, give love and be forgiven.