Life has been hectic since the beginning of the school year – different obligations pulling me in all directions. I signed up for this Bear Break trip in the midst of all of the insanity of school, knowing that by the time it came, I would have been exhausted. At the time it felt like a huge sacrifice to give up my Fall Break Holiday and the few bucks that the trip cost. I knew that serving was the best way to spend my weekend, but deep down all I wanted to do was relax at home and binge Netflix.
However, this trip made me realize that nothing could have rejuvenated me from the busyness of school the way service did. Our Bear Breaks team spent the weekend considering the issues of food security and sustainable farming in St. Louis. Our activities consisted of farming at Gateway Greening and EarthDance Organic Farm School as well as exploring some historic neighborhoods and monuments of St. Louis. It was a lot of hard work, but somehow I felt more full of life than I have been all semester. While the manual labor was physically exhausting, it was like a deep breath to my soul.
Through our many reflection times, I realized that I had my blinders on. While walking in downtown St. Louis, I saw a sign that said “momentum.” That word got me thinking how the word momentum implies an urgency to get somewhere; it is purposeful movement. Then I wondered what my momentum was for. I was rushing through the semester without purpose and intention to serve others and consider deeper issues in the community. I had momentum, but in the wrong direction. I am thankful that this trip gave me a chance to pause and reconsider what all my momentum is working toward. What am I accomplishing through all this busyness, and how much of it concerns others?
Because of this experience, I plan on taking more pauses throughout the rest of this semester, even when I’m busy, so that I can consider where my momentum is taking me. Even when I feel pulled every which way, taking this time will help me stay focused on my purpose. I hope that other people – especially those who feel like the semester is rushing by – will stop, go on a Bear Break, and find out how to inject more purposeful momentum into their lives.