The Summit

I have been busy with my programming assignment today (and struggling with even the basics so I didn’t get very far!) so the weekly Quick Takes post was not a priority. I hadn’t thought much about it during the week and I didn’t have a whole lot in mind to fill 7 things. Then I went to something this evening, and it’s the only thing I want to write about, so here it is, in 7 parts.

The Summit.
1. So, on Wed I had to go to the Dal Society Fair or at least I felt obligated to (whether they really needed a 4th person in the morning or not) for whatever reason I felt it was my duty to go. So I did.

2. Maybe God was calling me there for a reason. He also compelled me to be sure to walk around to the other booths and to talk to the people because it was at one of the Christian ones that I learned for sure that there was a Catholic group on Campus, Catholic Christian Outreach. I think I must have half known about it, because the Chaplain at Dal, who is also Catholic comes and does mass at our church from time to time. Anyway, I ended up at the CCO booth, talked with them a while and took a calendar and a card for the next event, which happened to be on Friday.

3. It was called the Summit and it was on a Friday night. I felt strongly compelled to at least give it a try, and so I did. I do not regret the decision in the slightest!

It was an evening of praise and worship, with adoration, 2 speakers and music. It was mature, age appropriate and meaningful. The altar was lit with candles like it had been when I went to adoration once before, although this time it was more effective because it was after dark. In addition, everyone was invited to bring their own candle up to place on the altar during adoration, and they also had confessions, though I had nothing prepared so I didn’t go this time. The music was contemporary, and I could really identify with it. It filled my soul. Music is such an important aspect of worship for me.

4. It was amazing. There really aren’t a whole lot of words to describe it. It was a truly amazing experience. Before going I basically told my husband that it was a prayer service, though when I got home I corrected that judgment- it was so much more than a prayer service. More intense. More Mature. More powerful.

It was awesome. Awesome to witness other young people so serious about their faith, and so devoted to God. Awesome to find the right adoration for me, the setting that opens my heart and my soul the fullest. Awesome to have my mind full of doubt and yet to still feel so full of the presence of the living God, every fiber of my being completely consumed with the Spirit. I felt a deep devotion, deeper than I have ever felt before. It was also the first time I really felt love for God.

5. And it really was just what I needed. I’d been feeling discontent and frustrated and selfish and unable to fight it. Unable to rise above it. What a blessing to just be able to re-center my life and just BE with God.

6. I kind of think this is like a mini Steubenville, though I haven’t gone there yet. I have been praying that we get lots of kids to go to Steubenville so I can go too, as a chaperone. It’s a bit selfish of me but I think it would be good for me and I’ve felt compelled to go since I first heard about it. Though, if it is not God’s will, at least I have found a close substitute.

7. Afterwards they had refreshments downstairs and a chance to meet people and socialize. I had already done some socializing upstairs as the people I met Wednesday were thrilled to see me there to join them. During the announcements right before we all went downstairs, I found out someone I knew was there, a fellow classmate from my graduating class. Surprisingly, she hadn’t heard that I had a baby, so that was fun. (I hadn’t seen her since I ran into her at the bridal show when I was planning my wedding. One of her siblings was getting married and she was a bridesmaid.) Downstairs we had a chance to really catch up, and it was really nice. She asked lots of questions, I guess because we had time, (usually when I run into a classmate it’s a short ‘hey, how are things.’ ) She really took an interest. She asked about how we met (me and my husband) and how the weather was for our wedding and even about the birth. I haven’t been able to have a real catch up talk with anyone for a long time.

All in all I think I may have some new friends and if this is my social life besides meeting with friends one on one then this works for me. And I am definitely going back next month!