January 30: Avoiding Monotony in Life

            The busier we get, the easier we fall into the same habits and patterns. So we ask for God’s help in avoiding monotony in our lives. May we discover new ways of learning and working towards our goals. May we reach out to new people and enjoy new experiences. We ask God to give us the courage to reach out beyond our usual patterns and find new ways of living. May God grant us excitement and discovery so we can continue to enjoy the life God has given us.

Photo by author, taken in Koh Phi Phi Don, Thailand

January 9: Discovery of New Interests and Passions

          We ask God to keep our lives engaging and exciting by introducing us to new interests and passions. May God grant us the courage to explore new subjects and fields with curiosity and enthusiasm. We pray God introduces us to people who lead us towards new hobbies and activities. May our discoveries grant us a life of greater attention and investment. May we find new ways to interact with our community and our world and to enjoy the life God has given us.

Photo by Ellen Kneeskern '18

October 17: Discovery of God’s Gifts to Oneself

            While we are just individuals among billions of people, we recognize that God has given a lifetime of gifts to each of us. Instead of constantly looking outside ourselves for value, let us examine the richness of our lives in the present. We take this time to appreciate what we often overlook in pursuit of greater reward. We thank God for our old friends and our families, those both granted to us and those we have chosen. We give thanks to God for the chance to learn in this community. We thank God for giving us all of these gifts without asking for anything in return. May we discover similar generosity within our own hearts.

Photo by author

October 11: Discovery of God’s Gifts to Humankind

             Many of God’s gifts go unnoticed, taken for granted in the business of everyday life. May we commit ourselves to the discovery and appreciation of these overlooked gifts. We are thankful for the Earth’s resources that nourish us. We give thanks for humankind’s ability to collaborate and form communities. We remember God’s gift of grace and forgiveness through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. These gifts are only the beginning of a long list, but we commit ourselves to further recognition and appreciation of God’s love for humankind.

Photo by Ellen Kneeskern '18

October 7: Appreciation of the Wonders of God’s Natural World

            While we may hold a subconscious awareness of the natural world, we often turn towards the industrial and the human-made. So we take this time to meditate on the beautiful complexity of nature. We appreciate the care God put into nature’s smallest parts, from the structure of individual leaves to the scales on butterfly wings. We feel awe at the landscapes God has sculpted, from lakes to mountains to oceans. We commit ourselves to showing our appreciation by protecting and preserving the wonders of Creation.

           Bonus Idea for Contemplation: This lotus was spotted growing in the Botanical Gardens of Penang, Malaysia. Lotus flowers are particularly important to Buddhist practices. Lotuses symbolize purity in the midst of impurity, as lotuses are beautiful flowers which spring up untouched from the muddy water. Consider the implications of this symbol to your own faith, how you can care for your spirit in our often muddy world. Consider what even the smallest parts of Creation can teach us.

Photo by author

October 5: Thankfulness for One’s Professors and Instructors

            We take this time to acknowledge that all our academic accomplishments are a result of the help God has sent us. We give thanks for all the professors who invest in our success. Though we often forget, we also celebrate our directors, instructors, and coaches, who help us pursue our passions beyond the classroom. We are also thankful for our peers, who collaborate with us in our learning, and for those who tutor us. We remember the teachers of the Bible, the Prophets, the Disciples, and Jesus, and we seek to discover those who emulate these teachers in our own lives.

Photo by Ellen Kneeskern '18