ABC Soup

I am so excited to announce a new category to the blog. I knew eventually the blog would need variety from its typical structure and I tried to provide that every once in a while, but lo and behold a whole new structure: Alphabet Soup!

The sights and sounds of the Eavesdrop Crockpot have an inconsistent content supply. Alphabet Soup will have a practically infinite supply of content. Basically, Alphabet Soup will bring the blog to a weekly posting. The format for the blog will be to pick a word I love of that week's letter and write about why I love it, how I want to use it in writing, daily life, faith, school, etc., who or what embodies the word, and possibly the favorite places I've seen it or used it. After all, to parallel my cooking analogy if my blogs were my meals words would be my ingredients. Perhaps, Alphabet Soup is an ingredient informational. Overall, they will be shorter blogs, but hopefully just as fruitful!

A IS FOR ARISE

Verb: 1:(of a problem, opportunity, or situation) emerge; become apparent. 2: get or stand up

If you have heard my arise rant before, I hope this blog brings an eye roll or a smile. If you have not heard my arise rant, I hope you enjoy my fandom for this 5 letter word.

ARISE IS SUCH A POWERFUL WORD. I love this word because it has such intentionality, power, and strength in such a short word. Arise has momentum. Wether its a problem, a hero, a person getting out of bed, or a phoenix from the ashes, arise feels like the intentional beginning of something that will leave its mark.

My fanboy for the word arise came from the prayer on St. Patrick's breastplate that is sang in the voice of an angel by our pianist Mrs. Duray at mass. Here's a quick snippet of the beautiful prayer:

I arise today, through The strength of heaven, The light of the sun, The radiance of the moon, The splendor of fire, The speed of lightning, The swiftness of wind, The depth of the sea, The stability of the earth, The firmness of rock.

I arise today, through God's strength to pilot me, God's might to uphold me, God's wisdom to guide me, God's eye to look before me, God's ear to hear me, God's word to speak for me, God's hand to guard me, God's shield to protect me, God's host to save me From snares of devils, From temptation of vices, From everyone who shall wish me ill, afar and near.

I started to pray this in the mornings and I find it be uplifting and comforting. It contains a trust in the power of God and a beauty of its faith. I began to pray it because my daily prayer life SUCKED in the summer after my 33 day consecration to Mary ended. It was inconsistent and sporadic. The only consistency was my nighttime prayer which was pretty much petitions for people in my life. This prayer has helped me begin my day with a mindset on God.

I love that the second definition is to get up or stand up. Imagine calling getting up in the morning arising. Imagine instead of have gotten off the couch you arose. Getting up has this connotation of a neutral or begrudging action, but ARISING, man, arising is ready and willing.

Two people come to mind when I think of an attitude of arising. Two people who I feel like get up ready for the challenges of the day with hope for joy and learning and never seem like they want to go back to bed or start the day over. The first is Jake Labus.

As I mentioned before, I am incredibly blessed by a great group of friends and Labus is one of them that pushes me to be better. Knowing Jake is kinda like knowing a star. I'm not with him all the time, but I know he's shining his light wherever he goes. If I had one word to describe Jake, it'd be passion. He's passionate about his faith, football, the food on his plate, or the conversation with some random person that he just met. His passion makes him a leader. His passion makes me feel like every morning and every problem he faces he will arise.

Second is Father Haan. I was blessed in my last three years of high school having Father Haan as the chaplain. Father Haan is a bank of wisdom and killer homilies (I believe I've referenced these Haanmilies in the past). If I had one word to describe Father, it'd be intentionality. He doesn't waste the minutes of his days but brings meaning to them. He approaches his day in a willing and purposeful response to God's call for him to be the hands and feet of Christ on Earth. He arises with intention and that intention is to serve the Lord.

Late sleeper? Crave your bed as soon as you get out of it? Shy away from problems or conflict? How can you change that to ARISE every day?