All semester long students rush around in perpetual flurries of activity. Now during finals week, the storm of bustle is at its peak. Everyone on campus races from one thing to the next, doing two, three, or even five things at the same time. Over the week long Thanksgiving break I offered students an alternative to this existence, a more connected way of life.
Lamppost Farm, an organic farm and retreat center near Youngstown, Ohio, is run by two former CCO staffers, Steve and Mel Montgomery. I took five students there for a long weekend retreat. We had a chance to slow down, work on the farm, play with Steve and Mel’s four kids, and most of all, spend time together without any pressure to rush off to something else.
We talked about how we each affect the people and things around us. We made an effort to be fully present in each moment, following Jesus’ example. Jesus always focused on the present. Luke’s gospel tells us that even in the middle of a huge crowd, on his way to heal a dying girl, Jesus stopped to talk with a woman who needed his attention, a woman he could care for only if he paused from his task.
How often do we do something as urgent as saving a life? Yet it’s so easy for us to rush through everything, only focused on what we have to do. We can instead, take the opportunities we have every day to positively affect our family, friends, classmates, and co-workers. This is part of the lifestyle Jesus modeled for us, and it’s the way we should live.
From making cheese to pressing apple cider to butchering turkeys, we participated in the preparation of our food more intensively than most of us had ever done before, and when we sat down to eat, everyone was fully present. No one was checking email, writing a paper, or watching tv (all more common experiences for these students than sitting down to a meal with friends to eat and talk).
The last activity of the retreat was for students to write a list of actions they could take in their lives to be more focused on the present and on the positive influence they can have on the people and circumstances they encounter everyday.
Two the items on my list were: 1) Turn off my cell phone more frequently, so a phone call won’t distract me from the people I’m with, and 2) Cook dinner with my wife at least twice a week as one way for us to have some time together to unwind from the day and make a delicious meal to enjoy.
If you were to make your own list of actions you could take to be more in touch with those around you, what would you write? This retreat was only possible because of your generous giving and prayer. My students and I appreciate the vital role you play in this ministry at Ohio Wesleyan University! Thank you!
The week before Thanksgiving is a bad time to be a turkey, as this one is about to discover.
But it became part of a delicious feast. Here is the recipe for one of the other dishes we enjoyed.
Dilly Mashed Potatoes
5 large potatoes (chopped)
5 large carrots (thinly sliced)
Boil together until soft. Drain, mash, and set aside.
2 Tbsp butter
1/4 cup chopped onion
11/2 Tbsp fresh Dill (chopped; or 1 tsp dried)
Melt butter in skillet & lightly sauté onion and dill. Add to potatoes.
1/2 cup plain yogurt or sour cream
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
Stir into potatoes. Mix well and transfer to 21/2 quart casserole dish.
Optional: Sprinkle 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese on top.
Bake uncovered at 350O for 30 minutes
