I Tweet, Therefore I Am - Twitter Launch

"The power of social media is that

it forces necessary change."

- Eric Qualman

     Last night I was out to dinner with a Sister friend of mine. When the bill came, I pulled out the usual, "I've got dinner, you get the tip?" Admittedly, I almost never have cash on me. Sister laughed when I said this and I went on further to say: I'm part of that plastic generation. One of my worst fears was that I would get on the turnpike without cash in my pocket and get stuck. So, I upgraded to an EZ-Pass. Just today, I was cleaning out the backseat of my car (finally) and found two dollars. While I was surprised at finding the two dollar bills, I was more shocked at the fact that there was paper money floating around. Life is easy with plastic. But, I guess that comes with my generational obsession with technology. 

    When I started my new job, I was told that this school was a technology school. They asked if I would have any problem transitioning. When it came to computers, I was always pretty savvy in figuring things out. I could handle almost any computer problem from software to hardware. But they problem was that I was used to PCs. My school is almost entirely Apple. Which, to be honest, I think is pretty cool. Of course, on my first day of work, I was sitting in my desk googling how to turn on a desktop Mac. Within seconds, I was watching a YouTube video showing me where the on button was. Instantaneous. 

     The two weeks before school started I was thinking of every which way I could weave technology into the classroom and into Campus Ministry. When I was student teaching, we always created mock Tweets to characters in our stories and Instagram accounts. Sometimes, we even made Facebook accounts. I found tons of websites that allowed for creative and safe ways to do these activities. However, with each student having an iPad, I could easily have them create professional accounts on social media. It's a two-fold lesson - the subject material AND technological integrity. We've been able to go completely paperless in my classes and it's been a great adaptation to our growing technological world. Not to mention, it's also good for our forests. 

     Using technology in the classroom has been so easy for me and my students. But I needed to figure out how to reach the rest of my students in my Campus Ministry office in a new way. So I created a Twitter account for the students to follow and get updates from. We haven't gotten all the way to Instagram level yet, but we are working on it. Some of my students say it really helps them stay in the know about events happening through the office. 

     Okay great, so I'm adapting all these social media efforts to my students. But, as shocking as this may be, I have another life outside of school. Some of my students know about my blog, but eh that means they have to go ahead and find it, read it and by the time they get to the website, six twitter notifications popped up and they've forgotten. There are plenty of people who read my blog who don't have Twitter, but I know there are plenty of people who read my blog that DO have twitter. Yesterday, as I watching my views go up and up and up, I thought: I need to reach more people. 

    From the very first blogpost back in October 2011, I've been posting the link to my personal Facebook account. It reaches a good percentage of my "friends" and every so often, I'll get a comment from someone I wouldn't expect to be interested. But even my students have said, Twitter is the place to be on Social Media these days. Facebook is for old people (fyi...they mean me). So while I was thinking about being part of the plastic generation yesterday, I thought about how a lot of people in my generation and the generation before me are facebookers. But there's a younger generation out there that needs to here my faith messages. I decided to create a Twitter account. 

    A lot of people say that if Jesus were here now, He wouldn't be on Social Media. But if we look around, He's already there. Friends, the Pope is on Twitter. I believe that Jesus would be wherever the young people are. And folks, the young people are on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram. Jesus would be on His a game about it. He wouldn't be obsessed with it as many people are today, but He'd be present there, too. I figure this, if people like myself are going to get anywhere with young people, we need to be where they are. I can't preach at church, because they aren't there. Take it to the streets. In our technology obsessed world, we need to start using technology for the betterment of society. It's too much to ask teenagers and middle-schoolers to look up a website. I need to put it right in the palm of their hands, straight to their smart phones. I need to be blowing up their Twitter feed with positive messages. 

     It's almost as if today, if one doesn't have a Twitter, one doesn't exist. "Oh who are you? Are you Facebook? Do I follow you on Twitter?" Maybe some would argue that I've fallen deeper into the social media vortex, but I'd like to say that I've given myself a chance to reach more people with Jesus' word. Young women aren't going to come knocking on the doors of the convent like they used to do; they're going to google Religious Communities, try to find them on Facebook, and if they have a Twitter, woah watch out! Young people don't read mail anymore, and even emails are usually ignored. It has to go right to their hands, a quick buzz from Twitter. This is the next generation, the generation full of vocations hiding inside hearts not sure how to get in touch. 

     So today, I officially launch my Twitter account: @lesstraveled92 (roadlesstraveled was already taken...). If you have Twitter, follow me. If you don't have a Twitter, don't feel left out; you can find the twitter feed on the right side of my blog. Just scroll down. If you're a young person looking for more information on Sisters and Religious Life, try following various different Twitter accounts (there are some pretty cool ones out there!!). As for all you vocation directors out there, try Twitter out. See what you can do with a simple # and 140 characters! 

Easter Never Tasted So Good - Welcome Back, Jesus

"Well end your suffering, little man. Why don't you pack up your gear and clear outta here?" 

- West Side Story

     

    Welcome back, JC! Easter is always an amazing time for reflection and thus, I have so many thoughts for you to ponder. First things first: since I'm not a sister yet, I don't have a set outfit to wear everyday. And let's be honest, when I was younger, I absolutely despised shopping. But it became a bonding thing with my cousin and now I find it quite enjoyable. Especially when I find the perfect Easter dress (see below)! Since my cousin and are away at school, however, we can't go shopping together. So our compromise is that every time we have a new outfit, we have to post a picture on the other's facebook. Today, I did just that. Someone else intercepted the picture and helped me realize that I looked just like Maria from West Side Story, so that explains the quotation above. But really, let's think about it for a hot sec...no one told Jesus He had to leave the tomb except His Father. But if His Father was in West Side Story, He might have said something like that. Did you ever hear a Daddy call his son, little man? Often I refer to my little cousins as little man and little princess. So, it's like God the Father saying, "Ok little man, end your suffering. Get up and move out!" Now if God was like my Daddy, He would have gone into the tomb, tickled JC's feet and said, "Wakey, wakey eggs and bakey!!" Actually, I can easily imagine God saying to Jesus on Easter Morning, "Come on, Son. Get up. We've got things to do today. Let's go!" Imagine God like your Daddy...how would He wake you up on Easter morning?

      Second thing: I'm not sure if many of you reading this have the understanding of what YOLO means. Let me explain. It's a hot trend on twitter and it's an acronym just like LOL or BRB. YOLO means "You Only Live Once." It winds up at the end of a risky tweet in the form of a hashtag looking like #YOLO. So for example, I would tweet, "Pulling an all nighter before observations telling Ghost Stories #YOLO" or "Going exploring for Mary's Lake in galoshes #YOLO" and so on...so basically anything one would do because he or she only lives once. Make sense? Ok, good. So now, I was checking Twitter yesterday and someone tweeted "Jesus died for our sins #thanks #YOLO" but the truth is, it was inaccurate. Jesus, technically didn't "only live once" because He died and came back to life. I shook my head in laughter. This morning, I get a tweet on my phone thank says, "Welcome back, Jesus #thanks #YORO (You only rose once)" Now how's that for accuracy? 

     Third thing: When you went to church as a kid with your family, or even now with your family, did you only sit with your family in a pew? Now granted, if you're like my Dad's family, all of you took up a whole pew, so there was no room to share. But most of you had families like mine, five or six people. And most likely one or two of the kids were either in the choir or altar serving, so there was plenty of room to share a pew with. And if you're a Parish like mine, no one cares about awkwardly sitting with six different families over two pews, and most likely the kids sitting between you and your parents aren't related to you in any way AND your little sister is probably sitting on some other mom's lap because your mom is busy with the other little kids trying to find the song in the songbook AND your dad is holding hands with your best friends mom during the Our Father and it's ok. That more or less happened this morning at my Parish. At the beginning of Mass, my mom and dad were sitting next to me and then my little sister on my other side. Our middle sister was in the choir loft. Next to her was another choir kid's parents and next to them, some random Grandma everyone knew. Behind us were three more families with six other kids. By the Homily, one of the little girls behind us dropped her doll in our pew and I somehow had my seat moved twice. After Communion when all the seating gets rearranged, I was now at the total opposite of where I started out and there was now a little one behind me poking my stomach as I knelt because it was hilarious to see me flinch every time. As we were all awaiting the final song announcement, the two moms behind me who were now sitting next to each other were trying to send me signals about how school was going. Finally, we were singing the final hymn, dancing and clapping our hands like Jesus had just risen that morning...oh wait...He did. All seating arrangements aside, what I'm trying to say is this: Easter is a morning when people we don't necessarily see all the time, come to church (myself included...college girl problems...) and...sit in our seats. So, we smush together and we don't mind. You know that common phrase, "It takes a whole village to raise a child?" Well, consider my Parish family, my village. People I saw this morning commented on how much I've grown up, how wonderful it is to see me back and of course, they had plenty of hugs to give me and I to give them in return. For a quick second, I imagined myself coming back to my Parish as a sister, having the same thing happen, except, my Pew would probably be filled with even more families and little kids. If all the kids had their choice, they would probably all try to sit on my lap at once! I know a lot of people don't like feeling claustrophobic in church, but that's something my Parish family thrives on...we just LOVE to smush together in one pew all the time. 

    Final thought: Lent is over. This means, we can go back to those things we gave up. As many of you know, I gave up coffee (more or less the greatest cross I've carried during Lent). While I wasn't as anxious as I thought I was going to be to have my first cup of coffee in forty days, it was still so great to have that warm elixir of life drip down my throat. Mhmm...coffee. When I grabbed the first cup I found in the cupboard, I didn't realize what it said. When I sat down to start my blog, that's when I realized. It says, "I love you with all of my heart." My favorite prayer leaflet in my Liturgy of the Hours book says, "With all of my heart, with all of my heart, I love you." It was just a quiet little "Thank you" from Jesus for my sacrifice this Lent. That made the forty days all the more rewarding. Thanks Jesus. Thanks for dying, thanks for rising, and thanks for letting me know my sacrifice meant something to You, too. 

Happy Easter All!

Do Whatever He Tells You....Nun-Tastic Day 6

     Back to the garage I went this morning after Mass. Yep, it was time to finish taking inventory. I emailed Sister late, late last night and when I didn't hear back, I texted her. Yep, these nuns (and most of the ones I know) email, text, tweet and Facebook like it's their jobs. I love it. So, we were all set to take inventory.
     I rang the doorbell as per the little sign on the door and was greeted by the same sister who answered the door last week. But then, another sister came bustling about. And low and behold, I knew who she was. But only from YouTube. You see she is part of the Sisters' Choir and is always on YouTube. But of course, I didn't say anything. Then my partner in crime for the day came to find me and we started on the inventory. For two straight hours we counted, documented, re-arranged and counted some more. It was a wonder I could even count straight after we finished FIVE bookshelves full. As soon as we finished (and it always happens like this), Sr. YouTube bustled me into the kitchen for lunch which she made. The four of us sat around the table and chatted, really chatted. For a WHOLE HOUR! About everything from my family, to my hobbies, to the sisters' past lives, to ministries, to school, to you name it, we talked about it. It was probably one of the most precious sit-downs for pizza, I've ever had. The sisters before letting me leave, each gave me a huge hug, thanked me for my help and promised prayers!
    The rest of the day was spent with my REAL sister de-decorating, baking and crafting. Oh and napping. I'm the type of person who never stops running, who engages in one thing right after the next. And today was a prime example. As soon as I got home, it was time to take down all the Christmas decorations from outside, and then take a nap. As my littlest sister will always be, she is a woman after my own heart. While I climbed into my snuggly warm bed, she crawled onto the staircase landing and started reading next to the bookshelf. Within five minutes, she was passed out, with her face in the book, sprawled about the landing. I had to laugh as I remembered so often doing that as a kid. It's the perfect spot.
    After dinner, we FINALLY made her brownies that she had been dying to bake. And then we FINALLY made her feast day cake. Her Feast Day was last week, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, but we had yet to make a cake. So, we made it and then she decided she wanted it to be blue for the Blessed Mother. So what did I do, I scoured the cabinets for blue food dye. THANK GOODNESS WE HAD SOME! And, so after they were all finally baked and laundry had been done, it was off to bed for that little one. But, as most little kids do, she stayed up way past her bedtime until I went to my room. Yep, she's my little sister, the protector and protectee, the baker, the crafter, the feaster and my soulmate, my best friend.

Let It Be, Let It Be, Let It Be...Done to Me

     This day in history: John Lennon was shot in 1980; in 1660, the first women to ever appear on stage in England performs in Othello; and Uzbekistan celebrates its Constitution day. However, there is one more extremely important thing that happened this day in history....decades and decades ago: Mary, Most Holy Mama of the Church, was conceived WITHOUT SIN! WOAH! She is the only person ever to be born without the stain of original sin and thus, we celebrate her goodness on December 8, every. single. year.

    When I was little, the feast of the Immaculate Conception was just another Holy Day. But then I went to college and realized how big a deal this day is. She is my school's patron as well as the sisters' patron. Feast Day is celebrated every year with a HUGE mass and then a HUGE feast in the cafeteria. AND there are no classes for the day; everyone has off, including faculty. And so, it ensures that everyone can celebrate!

     Last year, I was one of three members of the choir who sang for Mass. This year, there were nine of us and it was so beautiful. Words cannot explain how much my heart is lifted during this ONE TIME that I get to sing for the "piano nun." She doesn't play at our Sunday Masses and if I never went to daily Mass, I would never hear her play. You have to understand how accomplished this woman is. She plays the piano, the organ, is on numerous Liturgical Music boards and is simply amazing. She is a doctor of music and it is more than an honor to sing for her. It is even MORE of an honor to have her ask you to solo and then tell you how great of a job you did. Ah, that was what happened yesterday. She knows my FAVORITE composition of the Alleluia (only TRUE liturigical musician geeks can say that!) is the Weston Priory AND, we used it yesterday. Not only that, but she asked me to intone it. I was floating on High Heaven's cloud. 

     During Mass, my most favorite part is when the Sisters renew their vows. All of the sisters (and that's a :

lot) stand while we, the congregation, kneel. They say together, "Almighty and eternal God, I, Sister...., renew and confirm with all my heart, the vows of chastity, poverty and obedience, which I made at my profession, and I implore your grace to accomplish them perfectly. May my life be one of faithful love, may it reflect my total dependence on you, may my will be Your will alone. In the imitation of Jesus and Mary, I make my prayer forever. Amen." Imagine how my heart was beating!!!!!! To hear those words and to know that someday I might say them at my final profession and a hundred times after truly brought tears to my eyes! God is so good. 

    After Mass, my friends and I, among the sisters (who were also floating on clouds of happiness), dined at the great feast of delicious foods. My day was then followed by a nap, a date with one of the sisters, work and homework. Oh I can't forget A Year Without A Santa Claus (yes, we watched it.) and ending the night by tweeting the Magnificat back and forth with one of the sisters over Twitter, then skyping her after I facebook chatted her until one am. Needless to say, my day in Honor of Mary was spectacular and SO REAL in the life of a college student. 

Finally Got Grandma Beat...

   Here's to: My grandma, Mommom, as I call her, the hipster. Ok, so she's not your typical hipster, but she's pretty hip, as you can see in the picture below. I'm her spitting image and her favorite. Sorry, cousins and siblings, but you all know the love a grandparent has for the first born is HUGE. Anyway, so let's talk about her hipster attitude. While she may have false teeth and spends her retired days crocheting me AWESOME blankets for my dorm, she is the most in the know grandmoo I know. Seriously.

   People think I'm technologically advanced, but my mommom beats me on that one, believe it or not. She had a computer long before I ever did and she taught me how to use it. She has digital cable while I still am stuck watching channels 3, 6, and 10. She had a digital camera before I even knew that film was going out of style. In fact, I inherited her first digi cam. Once giant computer screens were out of style, she bought a laptop with a webcam and was on skype before I even leveled up past dial-up internet. Fast forward to present day. I now have my own laptop, for school purposes only, of course and I'm on Skype. I finally have my own digital camera that aids me in my LOVE for photography and editing. And, I finally know how to work YouTube now that she's taught me. However, Grandmoo didn't know what a Facebook was until I showed her. But, of course, she made one and "likes" all my statuses, pictures and posts. I made a blog, to one up her again, and guess who follows me: Mommom. So, HI MOMMOM I LOVE YOU! But finally, FINALLY, I think I may have done the final one up. Today, after detesting the hype for years, I made a Twitter and already, I love it. And so, finally, I got Grandma beat. Until of course she follows me on Twitter and gets my tweets sent to her mobile phone...

   Follow me on Twitter : nunbetter_BG92