“There is nothing like returning to a place that remains unchanged to find the ways in which you yourself have altered.”  --Nelson Mandela, in his autobiography

Friday was another Guatemalan holiday, which meant no school.  This happened to coincide with a Notre Dame home game against UCLA, so I booked a trip home a couple months ago.  Sarah was unsure if she wanted to spend that kind of money for a weekend trip, but as the weekend approached she couldn’t stand the thought of not making the trip, especially since her family would be there, including her sister and brother-in-law from Denver.  I was able to fly home on Thursday night and spend Friday in Herscher.  Sarah flew in Friday night, and my dad and I picked her up and drove to her parents’ house in Indiana. 

We hit campus early and made a productive trip to the bookstore.  The weather did not look promising early, but it turned out to be a glorious, sunny gameday at the Holy Land, complete with another magical last minute drive to add yet another chapter to Irish lore.  My dad and I sat in my former professor/teaching supervisor’s seats, which were in the 6^th row of the south endzone (thanks Rachel!). 

Samardzija made his catch and ran directly at us for the victory, and time seemed to stand still as my dad and I looked at each other in shock and began our euphoric celebration.

After the game Sarah and I went to an ACE (the teaching program we just graduated from) Mass in Fisher Hall.  It was awesome to attend a Mass so full of energy, good music, and inspiration.  It was celebrated by 2 of our favorite ND priests, one of whom was Father Scully, the founder of the ACE program and former ND Vice-President.  We are blessed that he will be presiding at our wedding next summer. 

Many Notre Dame students talk about "the bubble."  When you spend significant time on campus it feels like you are in a bubble.  Sometimes you don’t even realize it until you leave and experience the culture shock that awaits outside the bubble.  Sarah and I have definitely been feeling the effects of culture shock in Guatemala, but it has a lot more to do with the "bubble" factor than being in a different country.  I was directly involved in a Notre Dame program for 5 years, and Sarah was at ND along with another Catholic school (Dayton) for 6.  I would say our family and friends "off-campus" also help to form this bubble of protection, inspiration, support, etc.  Life’s journey is so much easier when you are surrounded by "teammates" who are share the same mission.  The strength in numbers is very real and can be an aid for good or evil.  Traveling together and holding each other accountable helps keep us on the right path.  Despite minor differences in opinion, the conversation and the common quest for truth helps make things clearer.  The yellow light in all of us shows the way and becomes brighter when we combine resources.

Our culture shock in Guatemala could happen anywhere.  The shock is from being cast back out into the "secular world."  Now, instead of drawing from the strength in numbers, we feel like we are swimming upstream.  It’s so easy to see how people get swept up by pop culture’s propaganda and the truth gets so distorted.  We realize how lucky we are to have been influenced by so many "yellow" people in the bubble, which built up a faith that makes so many things seem shocking in our new world.  Many things should be shocking.  The problem is people get worn down until certain actions no longer seem "that bad." 

We’ve realized how important it is to create our own bubbles as often as possible.  Any faith can be worn down if it is goes without being strengthened or "worked out."  This weekend with family, friends, and Our Lady’s university was like a re-fueling retreat for us.  Of course, the last-minute victory didn’t hurt!  (Sarah’s rational self probably would have been fine, but a loss might have taken a little bit out of me.)  Unfortunately, we can’t fly back to the Holy Land every time we need to re-fuel, so it’s obviously important for us to find our own ways to strengthen ourselves.  We can certainly avoid a lot of unhealthy food for the soul, but it’s inevitable that the world will chip away at us, so a heavy dose of truth can be much needed preventive medicine as much as it is energy and fuel for growth.

Anyway, I didn’t want this to turn into a sermon; but rather, just say that this weekend gave us a newfound appreciation for all the people who have created that bubble for us.  We can’t list everybody, but know that we can feel your yellow light from Guatemala.  Know that we are praying for your own battles outside the bubble, as we know you are doing the same for us. 

As for you Bruin fans in LA reading:  sorry to burst your bubble, but that’s just how Brady, the Shark, and the Irish roll sometimes.  Hope you enjoyed your pilgrimage to mecca anyway.

Go Irish!