Reflections on the Christian Practices

from the students of St. Joan Antida

2006-2007 School Year

While visiting the class at St. Joan Antida high school,

we talked about the impact of the Christian Practices on their lives.  Here are some of the comments I heard:

“I learned real life skills. These skills make me a better student and a better person. I think I’m even getting better grades now.”  

“Way to Live makes me think more deeply. Really deeply. I mean, I can’t even eat without thinking about my food now!”  

“This book opens student’s minds more. It makes you think about even the little things that affect your life. If you want a school of students who are thinking about everything (so we’re learning more), then get this book and teach this class to more students.”  

What can you learn from this? Who you are and how you can contribute to the world.  I mean, it motivates you to be better at who you are. That’s what I learned.”  

Their teacher had this to say:

“The Christian Practices Leader’s Guide is an awesome tool. It contains a plethora of useful and diverse lesson plan ideas for each practice. The leadership guide has definitely increased the quality of our class discussions and has added meaning and depth to our classroom activities.” 

Bodies

It’s important for teenagers to understand how God wants us to treat our bodies. Moderate exercise, moderate food, not overdoing it.

Stuff

I learned a lot from reading “Way to Live. I remember reading about “Stuff” and all the items we have that we don’t really need.  We watched a movie about an African tribe whose lives were wonderful until a helicopter came down and delivered Coca Cola.  This messed up everyone’s lives! Fir the first time, there were fights and arguments in the tribe over this Coke.  When you realize you don’t need those things you think you need, life is so much better.

The less stuff we have, the more happy we could be. Some people don’t even need the stuff they buy – they just buy it because they want it! Stuff can cause wars! We really need to use less stuff.

Food

We waste a lot of food. Sometimes we eat and we’re not even hungry.  While we’re throwing away food, most of the rest of the world is dying of hunger.

Creativity

Creativity is the main drive in people’s lives. When people let their imaginations go, creativity takes its place in life and great things happen.

Time

Time is valuable. We have to use it wisely. What we do with our time needs to be productive so we can show God we didn’t waste the time we were given.

Time is something made up by humans to keep track of what they are doing.  Getting up and doing the same things at the same time is how people made order and made the world more organized. In some parts of the world, there is no “time.”

Choices

We have to make choices every day of our lives, and we start learning how at a very young age. We are not always aware of how our choices affect others.

Most teens do not make good choices, and I think the “Way to Live” chapter on Choices explains and demonstrates how to make good choices. That chapter is really important.

Friends

Children need to learn how to pick the right friends. Being popular isn’t always good, because some popular kids really don’t have true friends. People should follow the seven habits of highly effective friendships.  In order to be a good friend, you have to be honest, loving, respectful, and strong. You have to share. These are some of the ways we can be good friends to others.

Prayer

People need prayer in their lives for many reasons: Peace of mind, comfort, closeness with God, the release of stress, and help in their lives.