On just about every wall of the buildings at my university was a flyer for ACR (Acceptance, Communication, Respect) Homes. At the bottom were cuts with little slips of paper that you could rip off with information on how to apply. Like most students, I had walked by these flyers hundreds of times without stopping …
The phrase “Empathy vs. Sympathy” is a phrase that may or not be familiar to you. Moreover, many people are confused by the slight differences between empathy and sympathy. I know I have spent a lot of time and effort trying to piece my way through them. Here is my understanding of the difference. Imagine …
In just about a week, we will hear these words from the Paschal Homily of St. John Chrysostom: Let us all enter into the joy of the Lord! First and last alike receive your reward; rich and poor, rejoice together! …
The Paschal Homily of St. John Chrysostom- Let’s keep hearing it Read More »
I graduated college in May 2020. The coming months were some of the most formative of my life thus far. I became a nationally certified athletic trainer after passing the Board of Certification exam. I spent a great deal of time with family and friends. I joined my home parish’s young adult ministry board. And, …
It’s interesting to think about the boundaries that exist all around us. There are many necessary reasons why houses have walls. Fences take their place around almost all back yards. Housing complexes have gates. Within houses, there are rooms. We can make a much longer list than this. How can we speak to the purpose …
It is the need and desire of every human being to be acknowledged. Whether we consciously recognize it or not, we all want someone to be interested in us. We want to be valued and welcomed into conversations. We want people to ask us what we think and agree with our thoughts. We want to …
A crucial aspect of serving others is putting time and energy into our own physical, mental, and spiritual needs. One common way of thinking about this is the “full cup” metaphor, which goes something like this: we must first fill our own cup so that we have energy and love to pour out onto others. …
One of the most difficult things about loving someone in their time of need is that there isn’t a road map. Every person is different, and every need is unique to them. Letting go of what you think you should say and do makes room for a response that serves that person. Staying present in …
Great Lent: An opportunity to ask the right questions Read More »
To think about a love without condition is daunting. In some ways, it is a legitimate concern to wonder if any of us can do more than strive for it. What might be a good place to begin is to understand it and, with God’s grace, to believe in it. What does it mean to …
Recently, on a YES Trip, we led a group of college students through a stretching and vulnerable activity. We first asked them to sit in pairs facing each other. Then, we gave each of them a piece of drawing paper and a pencil. For each of the participants, the task was to draw the person …
YES is a program of FOCUS North America
FOCUS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, FEIN: 26-4427803
