SEEK 2015: How things have changed in my life since SEEK 2013...
I think back to exactly 2 years ago: New Years Eve, 2013. It was when I was furthest into a life of a false god that was "my own rules", or what would make me momentarily happy. SEEK 2013 was a slap in the face- the realization of how deep I had gotten, how far away I had strayed from the truth, which was never my intention.
I will forever be grateful for the missionaries that pushed me to go on this trip. I would not be the genuinely and eternally happy person I am today. I learned how to truly, freely, and selflessly love others. I learned that it is actually a strength to be able to do so, not something I should fear.
I can't wait for what is in store for me as I embark on my trip tonight to Nashville for SEEK 2015. What a way to begin the new year! "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you" (Matthew 7:7).
From the side Dan approached Emily. He gives her a gentle hug. "Have fun at SEEK," Dan says as he starts to walk away. Emily was pleasantly surprised by this small gesture of sibling affection. She runs after Dan and says, "I'll make sure to find your friend!" As Dan escapes out of her view down the basement steps, Emily turns back to return to her friends.
Emily thinks back to one day previous. Dan approaches Emily as she walks in the front door. He instantly barrages Emily with persistent interruptions. Once Emily settles inside, she yields and turns to Dan. Dan starts telling her about this friend he wants Emily to find. He goes on about this girl he knows would be there. Dan was unable to go to SEEK, but Emily would be going. Dan insists that Emily meet this friend in his place. Emily is more practical, knowing that the odds of finding one specific person out of six thousand people with little over a day and a half to do so would be farfetched at best. Still, she agrees, not expecting anything to come of this promise.
New Year's day again, Emily waits for her brother Fred to drive her and her friends to the Oratory, where the buses would be. Fred tends to take his time with things, and this instance was no exception. Eventually they do set out for the Oratory. As expected, Emily and friends arrive with plenty of time. The buses haven't yet arrived, so Emily hangs out in the student center of the Oratory for a while. The buses arrive, and Emily boards.
The bus trip takes about 20 hours. The bus is made of students from Pitt as well as from CalU, most of whom do not know each other. At one point in the ride, all of the riders agree to play a "speed dating" type of ice breaker. Every person sitting in an aisle seat would rotate around the other aisle seats on the bus. The window seaters would remain where they were. Soon, everyone had been adequately introduced to each other. For such a long ride, it turned out to be rather pleasant.
When they finally arrive in Florida, at the Swan and Dolphin Hotels, they expect to need to register. The lines were unbelievably long. Registration lines were organized by separating each letter of the alphabet. Still, the lines were long. There were just that many people.
The first thing Emily has to do is Mass. Even there there are so many people. Mass itself takes much longer than an hour, but no one seems to mind, especially Emily. In earnest prayer, Emily thinks, Lord, let me get as much out of this as I can. For how little time I have here, have my time here be fruitful.
As soon as Mass ends, Emily gets caught up in the crowds. She looks around for her friends, but there are just so many people.
In the crowds, Emily feels a tap on her shoulder. She turns. There is a girl looking at her. She is shorter than Emily, with long brown hair, and a shy, but curious, look on her face.
"Are you Emily?" she asks?
Emily had left her name tag in her room earlier on accident, so there was nothing on her to identify her as being Emily. Confused by this question, then, she looks at this girl's nametag. Katie, it reads.
Katie, Emily thinks. "Katie," she says now, almost under her breath. Emily's mind quickly flashes to two days prior. Dan points at the computer. There is a picture of a girl wearing a purple crown with brown/blonde hair and a pretty smile. "Her name is Katie," Dan says. "I want you to find her. I call her Fitzy."
Emily's mind returns to the present. "Katie!" she exclaims, still in disbelief. Out of six thousand people in under two days, Emily manages to meet this one of Dan's friends. She begins to talk to Katie in a friendly manner. Their time talking is short as they have different places to be. Emily promises to call Dan, to tell him about this happenstance. Katie must depart then as Emily makes her call.
Catholic Trivia at SEEK 2013! Video made by two University of Florida students in charge of hospitality. ENJOY! Test out your Catholic Trivia while you're at it :)
