Why Reflect?: A Reflection

In case anyone was wondering, STARR features a double 'r'.  No, its not there for cutesy reasons, nor are we really bad at spelling.  When STARR was founded, it was originally STAR (Students Taking Active Roles), with the singular 'r'.  However, changes in the program led to the addition of another 'r', becoming STARR (Students Taking Active Reflective Roles).  So why the change?  What role does reflection play in our ultimate mission of Christian service?

Teach a Man to Fish: Respecting the Dignity of the Individual

One of my favorite hobbies is to watch TED talks on Youtube.  Briefly, TED is an academic forum for people, typically experts in their fields, to give short talks to an audience about whatever it is they're working on, and those talks are videotaped and posted to Youtube.  I watched a video by Josette Sheeran, who heads the UN's World Food Program, entitled "Ending Hunger Now."  I found this video to be rather fascinating because Mrs. Sheeran suggested that world hunger could be ended now if we are willing to take the collective steps to make that happen.  One idea she shared that I especially found relevant is the idea that, rather than just giving away food to those victims of hunger, we empower them to be the solution of their own problem, thus feeding them and stimulating their local economy.

We Must Because We Can (and Should!)

Last night I found myself in the kitchen at the seminary, grabbing a late night snack and chatting with some of the other guys. For whatever odd reason, guys end up meeting in the kitchen, munching on junk food and start talking about deep topics such as religion and philosophy. Why a can of Pepsi and a half-eaten bag of Doritos puts us in the introspective mood, I'll never know. Anyways, myself, Tyler Tenbarge, and a few other guys were talking about retreats and conferences we'd given or been to, and Tyler brought up one he gave for FFA called "We Must Because We Can." Being the nerds we are, myself and a few others pointed out that just because can do something doesn't mean we must do it (Think "We can massacre an entire demographic --> Genocide). Thus, one of us added the qualifier "We Should," making Tyler's conference title "We Must Because We Can and We Should." Granted, that idea doesn't roll off the tongue quite so easily, but it does bring up a moral imperative worth discussing...

Our Problems

As I went to my closet this morning, I couldn't choose which shirt: a green-striped or a blue-striped with a white collar. I know... real life problems, right? Now, while my moment of indecision was just a moment, it was enough time to for me to notice what I was doing. Sorting through my closet, I wondered that if I was wasting time trying to decide on a shirt for the day, what was I not spending time on that was more important than dressing myself?

A Tale of Two Stories

This morning, after a refreshing Norton lecture in Humanities, I ventured up to the Knight and Day Cafe (purveyor of fine coffee and other miscellaneous college essentials) to fill my mug of black caffeinated goodness. Looking out at our fine educational institution, I had a spark of philosophy in which I suddenly ventured to ask "What is everyone here thinking about?" While it would be nice, if not overwhelming, to know what everyone is thinking, I was left to speculate.

Spreading Into the City

Last Friday's STARR was the largest one in which I participated. Glory to God! More than 40 students offered a few hours of their time to serve children, people with disabilities, the poor and those displaced by war. As we departed to our four sites, several students volunteered to drive others... something we definitely needed after so many people joined us for STARR.

At the Sophia Club / STARR cookout following our service, one person commented about how he thought it was awesome to know that not only was he serving with ten others at his site, but that MU students, people he knew, were at three other locations doing the same thing - putting the Gospel into action. After such a successful STARR this past week and neat insight from our fellow student, I pray we may all not only continue serving, but also continue to reflect on what we are doing by going to STARR.

A shout-out to all of those who attended this past week! Thank you for choosing to serve, to love and to be with us.

Image Source - "hands"
Image Source - "city"

Gospel, Historical and Personal Reflection

From a Deacon's blog