tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6668594987436792920.post7517991531663328578..comments2023-07-05T08:17:21.505-04:00Comments on Getting to the Point: Madonna House: The MovieFr. Denis Lemieuxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01049723287624178155noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6668594987436792920.post-9792935820036991072015-01-15T22:35:40.300-05:002015-01-15T22:35:40.300-05:00If I didn't live so far away & wasn't ...If I didn't live so far away & wasn't so old I would love to be there<br />Maureenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14235339663796118489noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6668594987436792920.post-88619117518827877342015-01-15T22:19:27.400-05:002015-01-15T22:19:27.400-05:00Yes, our reputation for being such a brutally hard...Yes, our reputation for being such a brutally hard place is... slightly exaggerated. I've mostly heard this from people who have never actually been here, to be honest! Fr. Denis Lemieuxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01049723287624178155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6668594987436792920.post-64473528265340447452015-01-15T22:15:09.513-05:002015-01-15T22:15:09.513-05:00Had to laugh at the "hard" "spiritu...Had to laugh at the "hard" "spiritual boot camp" description of a MH guest. I found that it was not a hard life at all, but then I was a much older guest when I spent my 6 months there. When I talk with young people thinking about going I warn them that their smart phones and laptops won't work 24/7 so they might want to start weaning themselves off the electronic connection.<br /><br />The letting go of the constant desire to check email, and not watching my TV, movies and music all day gave me the real appreciation of the beauty, silence and wonder at how God does speak when He is given some silence to whisper in my heart. The acclimation especially for the young adults might be hard for them to adjust to, but it also teaches them they can lead a much fuller life disconnected from worldly distractions and find God is there in the simple things of life. <br /><br />Work is simple at MH and not taxing, or hard. The hours are reasonable and work is so broken up by tea time, meals, Mass, Spiritual Readings and breaks that I figured a guest really does maybe 4 to 4 1/2 hours of work a day at best. For anybody that has worked in the real world at a 8 hour a day/40 hours a week job for low wages knows that is nothing. Having gone through Army boot camp it is nothing like boot camp, rather you are surrounded by caring people who really want to listen to you and hear what you think about something. And no push ups or running!<br /><br />My main advice especially to young adults is take several weeks to stay up there if you are able, maybe during summer break or right after graduation. It takes about 1-2 weeks to get use to a whole new schedule, like anything in life, and suddenly one day you are feeling a peace inside and joy you never felt before. You are truly glad to see the now familiar faces surrounding you at supper and you are laughing and having fun conversing with people of all ages, backgrounds and life experiences who share a common goal- wanting to live fully for God. Great graces do fall upon those who visit and are willing to just relax, let go and be in the moment for God to reach out and touch their hearts.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com