Summer "break," a wedding, and travel

How time flies. So much has been going on that I simply can't do it all justice in a few short blog entires. After final exams a few weeks ago I drove from St. Louis to Wisconsin, where I was able to visit my friends Brian, Justin, Nichole, and Isaiah. Next, I was on to Fargo where I helped put together a bachelor party for my brother. And then we were all on the road to Bismarck for the wedding on May 19th.

So my brother is married. I was honored to serve as his best man, a title I've had three times now. The best part of being best man has to be looking over the groom's shoulder and watching the bride as she says her vows. Seeing such happiness and hope for the future is always inspiring. Having reflected on the vocation of marriage lately, I have an even greater respect for those who feel called to that life. Braathens, McCormacks, and now Signalnesses ... know that you're all in my prayers these days.

The wedding activities spanned a few very hectic days, ending with the newlyweds flying off to Jamaica for what sounded like the perfect honeymoon. I've posted some of the pictures from the wedding events (except the honeymoon) online:

• Ira's Bachelor Party.
• Wedding Rehearsal and Groom's Dinner
• Pictures and the Wedding
• Wedding Reception

Now my summer break has begun. I've moved into the rectory at Christ the King Church in Mandan, where I have a room. I do not have any particular seminarian duties this summer so I have returned to work at Basin Electric to help out for a few weeks.

Being back at work is a little surreal. Not much has changed at Basin since I left. The same servers are running the same software. The same people (except a few new hires) are doing the same jobs. And I was able to step right in as if I had not taken nine months off. Consequently, it has felt at times like the last nine months never happened.

Living seminary life for an academic year helped me to cultivate a deeper prayer life and a stronger relationship with Christ. I spent a good deal of time doing some spiritual reading as well, educating myself. These developments were very positive. While I acknowledge God's grace as the source of this progress, my own cooperation in that grace was required.

Now, working full time this summer, that cooperation is harder to muster. Back "in the world," I'm being assaulted by all the many distractions like movies, dining out, and so on, that are easier to avoid at school. I still make time every day for meditation and prayer, of course. But I feel so hopelessly distracted that prayer feels less worthwhile. (I keep thinking "let's ride bikes!")

Time and again the saints wrote about times like this. The key is to persevere and maintain the prayer, they say. As people who made it to heaven I'm sure the saints can be trusted. So I will continue the routine. Even when prayer feels worthless, God is at work in one's soul. So I will let him work. It was so much easier to do that while in the seminary.

When not praying, biking, geocaching, watching movies, reading, or working, I have been working on the travel log for my spring break bike trip from San Diego to Phoenix. Hopefully, it will be online soon.