The Gift and the Offering upon this Silver Occasion

When I graduated from college, one of the gifts I received was a small sign that read: "What you are is God's gift to you.  What you make of yourself if your gift to God."

I think that adage speaks eloquently to me today as I mark 25 years since I was born.  It's amazing to think I've reached this milestone of a quarter-century of life before God on this Earth.  And there's so much I've experienced, much of it in the context of community, and especially a strong sense of family with whom I've always felt close throughout these years.  They are what makes this day special--especially when I realize that in some ways this day is a much bigger deal for them, most especially for my parents, than it is for me.

To mark the occasion, I'm going to share 25 significant things in my life, in no particular order.

1. My accomplishments at Valparaiso University: Bachelor of Science Cum Laude with meteorology major, minors in math and Spanish, Christ College Associate, and Phi Beta Kappa

2. going on a great Amtrak train trip to the Western United States and back, at age 6

3. the Sweat Lodge ceremony

4. St. Augustine Mission/Service trip

5. being a member of the Percy Julian Middle School Class of 2005, the first group of students who attended 6th grade at the middle schools in Oak Park

6. being baptized into the Roman Catholic Church

7. my Confirmation

8. teaching Religious Education classes, and being part of the formation of four different Confirmation classes at Ascension in some way

9. born in Chicago, an amazing city

10. living in Oak Park, IL, a wonderful community

11. Being part of the Ascension Parish community

12. volunteering at the Oak Park Public Library

13. working at the Oak Park Public Library

14. MLIS studies in the GSLIS of Dominican University

15. being a citizen of the United States, a country that has made some stellar contributions to the world

16. being part of the community of St. Teresa of Avila Roman Catholic Student Center

17. writing for school newspapers

18. being elected co-Vice President of Julian Student Council

19. My trip to the AMS Annual Meeting in Austin, TX

20. participating in National Geography Bee, including the 2005 Illinois State round

21. the Liberty's Kids PBS television show

22. attending my friend's Bar Mitzvah

23. having Mexican heritage, a share in a rich culture

24. the Kairos retreat

25. Activism for the strengthening of life and family as God intended them

While I haven't ranked the items in the list above, there are definitely some things that stand out and I feel would be ranked near the top:  For certain, my experience at Percy Julian Middle School was the most significant time of my life growing up, with being part of the first group of 6th graders there as the most important part of the experience.  Being part of the Roman Catholic Church is definitely something I give thanks to God for, a community steeped in tradition that breathes new life even this day.  And teaching Religious Education classes has been probably the most significant experience in my life, because it is the convergence of my experiences at Julian and in the Roman Catholic Church and their effects.  It has indeed been an opportunity for me to draw together what God has given me in my life and offer it back to Him, for His glory.