Visiting a Family
As I’ve said in previous posts, it is sometimes difficult for a seminarian to be involved in all the things that you want to be involved in, or things that you think you should be involved in. That’s to say, there’s quite a lot of emphasize on study and prayer here, that we don’t get around to doing too many other things aside from some major hobbies (= the time you need to relax!)
Anyway, one of these things is really being with people – with the people you want to become a priest for. Two weeks ago I went to visit a family whom I’ve befriended last year. Mom, dad and three little rascals, the oldest being about 11, the youngest about 7 – all boys. It’s really a wonderful experience to be in their home and just share an afternoon and evening with them.
I don’t come from a Catholic family, so it’s taken a few visits to real Catholic families to kinda get an idea how they do things different than we used to do at home. Of course, every family is different, so there’s no one way of doing things, but one thing that sticks out is that in the families I’ve befriended, there is a completely different atmosphere in the house: the things they talk about, the time they spend together, the music that is played, etc. Then, what’s cooler than a dad picking up his guitar at the end of the evening and singing a few songs for Jesus along with the rest of the family?
Needless to say, I’ve had a great time: we played several board games and we had pancakes. After dinner, the kids performed a completely wacky (and utterly adorable) play for the grown-ups, we all prayed together and then they all tried to keep me there, by clinging to me and saying how I couldn’t leave. Well, I did leave (heh, they had to go to bed!), but it really made me happy to know that they had enjoyed themselves as well as I had. I know that if I continue down this road, I am not going to be a father, but it’s so cool to experience you can be a Father and that kids really take to you. Thank you, Lord, for this wonderful time 
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