This fall semester has come and gone faster than what I expected. It seemed it was yesterday that I arrived at Chicago in sunny and warm weather. Now, leaves are falling from trees and cold and windy days are among us. Having left family, friends and memories I was ready to take upon new adventures of a new city, among new people, making new memories, and so I put on the shoes of a seminarian. At first, as it is in any change in life, there is much to adapt to: weather, community, prayer life, school, classes, and so discomfort is very much present. Just like putting on those brand new shoes and walking with them for the first time. There is rubbing here and there, weariness as your feet adapt, and even irritation at times if this persists for quite long. But we all come across this period and brand new shoes become comfortable and enjoyable after some time. And so in trying my new shoes, all the sudden, strangers became friends, awkward silences were replaced with laughter, unknown streets turned into common routes that led me what is now, home, and joy and comfort settled. But the joy is far much more than just adapting or assimilating to a new pair of shoes, or a new situation and place--instead, trying the shoes of a seminarian is being reminded that the joy truly lies on the pavement and not the shoes.
New situations, unexpected situations, for bad or for good come upon everyone, whether they strike us at home, or in foreign lands, with new people or family. New shoes are a part of life but what matters is how we walk with them. In a sense, this is putting the shoes of a seminarian, knowing that despite of new situations, our joy for life and our deepest desire to share Christ's love is known. This semester walking on seminarian shoes has taught me not to pay attention to the discomfort that may appear as shoes come and go, but rather pay attention to the road I walk on, the pavement that leads the way. And so I end up with a cliche, "It is not what we do, but who we are," what we do, will always be dictated by the type of shoes life throws at us, but how we decide to walk on them, that alone, is up to us.
