The Heart of Being Marianist

This week Spectacle of Saints welcomes second year Marianist PULSE volunteer, Peter, as our first #MP3 guest blogger. Peter reflects on the challenges and growth he has experienced over the past year, and how he came to serve for a second year as a PULSE volunteer serving at the MEEC. Stay tuned to hear from other members of the third cohort of Marianist PULSE in future blog posts!

I try not to take it for granted that I’m blessed to have people in my life that are curious about what I am up to these days—people who have given me many chances to explain not only what a year of service in Marianist PULSE looks like for me, but why I’ve chosen to commit to a second year despite some growing pains during my first year.

Before my first year as a PULSE volunteer, I could not have anticipated the ways I would be challenged to reframe my understanding of myself and the world around me. Yet while still being in the midst of processing it all, I can already look back at my first year and deeply appreciate it for being the formative experience that it was.

I believe I am a better person because of the struggles I encountered in commitment to my PULSE community, growing in professionalism in the workplace, finding a balance for outside relationships (family, friends, etc.), and making time for self-care in mind, body, and spirit.

It is no coincidence that I came to a place where I found myself sorting through basic elements such as:

• how I communicate (how I give and receive criticism, or how much time I give myself to think before I speak) 
• how I decide to spend my time each day (such as developing a routine that I can use as a tool to hold myself accountable to my commitments) 
• how I find time for relationships inside and outside community (knowing that I need to be present to my community, but also opportunities to maintain a wider perspective) 
• how to anticipate priorities at work (such as regular duties or seasonal responsibilities) 
• how I recognize my need to recharge (such as regular exercise and personal prayer) 
• why I believe committing to developing all these parts of who I am is something worthwhile. 

The part that makes all of this so un-coincidental for me is that my entire journey is at the heart of what I believe it means to be a Marianist: to grow closer to Christ as an entire person and alongside others. This is what Mary leads us to do, to draw us closer to her Son and each other.

Staying at the table!

As I considered applying for a second year of PULSE in February, I felt I had just begun to gain an understanding of the areas in which I needed to grow, and what I could do to work toward that growth. It quickly became important for me to weigh the possibility that a second year would afford me the time and space to continue allowing myself to be formed in mind, body, and spirit. Despite my first year challenges, I strongly felt that a renewal of commitment would give me a chance to carry all my learning with me into a second year. And I am so thankful that I have the opportunity to continue sorting through things on a daily basis, and that’s largely because of the daily nature of committing to the mission of Mary: of being brought together in our journey toward her Son.

Many things are different this year: I live in a new community house in a new neighborhood with a very different dynamic on a new side of Dayton, I live with all new community members, and I’ve been handed greater independence and responsibility at my volunteer placement.

A little downtown Dayton fun!

I am very grateful that I have been granted a second year to continue to more deeply develop what I began to delve into last year. My second year has already provided remarkable opportunities for grace that I am privileged to grasp each and every day. I ask for your prayers as this year continues to mature; I know there is still much to learn and an ever-present sense of humility that I desire to maintain. Know of my prayers for you as I share with you a small piece of my Marianist PULSE experience.

Gratefully,
Peter