Integration 4 John Austin Hatch Moreau FYE Integration 4 Prof. Chan The Response to the Prompt I am a human being, and as such, my mission is to know, love and serve God. For this I was made, regardless of my beliefs, and in adhering to this I will be happiest. The first of these goals, to know God, is achieved through prayer. Both active and passive, vocal and mental, prayer is a conversation in which God reveals himself to me, and shows how I should love him and serve him. Knowing God also involves understanding his creation, beginning with myself, and extending to other people and the world he has created for me. To serve God is to do his will, in deeds and thoughts. Most of the time this means doing my work well, as an offering to him, in service to his people. This also means serving his poor, and adding my friends to the ranks of his faithful. Finally, to love God is to do both of these things out of my free will, for his glory. This task is not one I can complete on my own merit but, paradoxically, it is the one I am designed to do. I was created not to fulfill my purpose but to be fulfilled. For this I was created, and for this I should live, since all other paths lead to suffering. It’s funny. Usually, when I write a paper for a class, I am the one who provides the evidence that supports my conclusion. And that is when the paper is about something far less personal and open ended. Yet this time, when I am supposed to be even more personal and free thinking, the evidence is provided for me, whether or not it supports the conclusion I want. While this could imply that there is only one way to pursue a life well lived, an answer which I fully support, it does not. The evidence is as non-conclusive as possible. That being said, I will continue with the disclaimer that some evidence I cite may not actually support my mission statement. An important part of fulfilling my mission statement is cultivating virtuous habits. There are many of these, both natural and supernatural. Some of these are more abstract, such as the ones mentioned by Fr. Michael Himes, “Two key virtues are crucial to give oneself away: wisdom and courage. Wisdom is more than knowledge and wisdom preeminently knows that the other is other.” ("Three Key Questions" by Fr. Michael Himes - Moreau FYE Week Three). Similarly, Pico Lyer’s comments on meditation focus on the idea itself. “It's been found by scientists that meditation can lower blood pressure, help boost our immune system, and even change the architecture of our brains. This has no more to do with religion or any other kind of doctrine than a trip to the (mental) health club might.” (Why we need to slow down our lives by Pico Lyer - Moreau FYE Week One). Dr. D’Angelo has a similar approach for a different virtue, “Taking action to address our own racism, the racism of other whites, and the racism embedded in our institutions” (Why It's so hard to Talk to White People about Racism by Dr. Robin D’Angelo - Moreau FYE Week Ten). My friend Will, also spoke on a particular virtue (or vice) in the abstract. “I think something that’s difficult to say, but good for you to hear, is that you can be rather passive.” (William Grannis - Moreau FYE Week 5). All of these quotes talk about virtues, but focus on the virtue itself rather than achieving it. Others, however, focus more on the habituation process. Dr. Kim presents a practical way that he found to situate prayer in his day. Forced by his medical condition to rest for 5 minutes every so often, he reframed this time into something productive. “‘How can I use these 5 minutes?’ And I decided to pray to God for those 5 https://canvas.nd.edu/courses/40288/files/471202?module_item_id=145988 https://ideas.ted.com/why-we-need-a-secular-sabbath/ https://docs.google.com/document/d/1bdVnfLDrJUJhd-4UtYb_kfRpcFgOoOeY7O1WT8_d3iw/edit minutes.” (5 Minutes by Aria Swarr - Moreau FYE Week Six). Dean Marcus Cole also used his position and unique environment to create concrete goals, if not exactly habits, to achieve change. “It is urgent that we recognize that human rights are under threat all around the world, including here in the United States. This reality must be acknowledged, and addressed.” (Dean G. Marcus Cole: 'I am George Floyd. Except, I can breathe. And I can do something.' by Dean Marcus Cole - Moreau FYE Week Twelve). This is what I hope to do in the next three years. Assess my situation, with whatever nuances it has, and turn those peculiarities into opportunities to improve in virtue. Why should I do this? Because who I am, and what I do in big situations, is built on what I do in small situations. “Every experience shapes you in some way, whether you realize it at the time or not.” (Navigating Your Career Journey by the Meruelo Family Center for Career Development - Moreau FYE Week Four). This slow buildup of virtue can become something big. As Father Hesburg said, “We don’t prove anything by burning something down, we prove something by building it up.” ("Hesburgh" Produced by Jerry Barca and Christine O'Malley - Moreau FYE Week Two). This is how I can avoid falling into complexes such as this. “On the other end of the spectrum are sophisticated pessimists… Dismantling the “white savior complex,” they are skeptical about international development making any positive contribution in the world.” (Teaching Accompaniment: A Learning Journey Together by Steve Reifenberg - Moreau FYE Week Nine). Or this “What's political hobbyism is not whether you think it's deadly serious or not. It's whether the emotion is the end in itself or a means to an end. So in short-cut politics, in hobbyism, emotion is the goal.” (Passion Isn't Enough by Eitan Hersh - Moreau FYE Week Eleven). Instead, I hope to act and do what I can, rather than forming theories. Then I will be able to reach heights the likes of which Pope Francis spoke of when he said, “And what is https://grottonetwork.com/make-an-impact/transform/why-does-god-allow-suffering/ https://law.nd.edu/news-events/news/dean-g-marcus-cole-i-am-george-floyd-except-i-can-breathe-and-i-can-do-something/ https://law.nd.edu/news-events/news/dean-g-marcus-cole-i-am-george-floyd-except-i-can-breathe-and-i-can-do-something/ https://undergradcareers.nd.edu/navigating-your-career-journey---moreau/ https://notredame.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=10159379-7eca-4549-8581-ab9500c9ecd9 https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hZbSdVImfn2hZDqMrdL96dZCNOtHuf6C-lg3sH-Rs30/edit https://hiddenbrain.org/podcast/passion-isnt-enough/ tenderness? It is the love that comes close and becomes real. It is a movement that starts from our heart and reaches the eyes, the ears and the hands.” (Why the only future worth building includes everyone by Pope Francis - Moreau FYE Week Seven) https://www.ted.com/talks/his_holiness_pope_francis_why_the_only_future_worth_building_includes_everyone/transcript https://www.ted.com/talks/his_holiness_pope_francis_why_the_only_future_worth_building_includes_everyone/transcript