b'NEWS FROM AROUND THE STATE, continuedSeminarian David DesPresTake a Deep BreathTake a deep breath. Take a deep breath.We have all received this advice before. May- I believe that many, maybe all of us, have had be we were stressed, angry, tired, upset, or somethis same feeling, this same need, after the past otherless-than-idealstateofmind.Howeverfew years. In a world where we continue to strug-simple, taking a deep breath, slowing down, andgle with disease and war. In our country where we turning our attention away from whatever is both- struggle with stark disagreements. In our families ering us so often leads to calm, clarity, or at leastwhere we endure the hurts that can only be inflict-takes a bit of the edge off. How many times haveed by people who we love. we said something, dwelt on a problem, or lost our temper, because we failed to slow down andTake a deep breath.take a breath? This breath is more than simply a physiological reset. This breath is a time to invite God into our Take a deep breath. lives, to recognize the presence of Jesus, who is I have spent the past year in the Archdiocesealways with us, and understands our sufferings. of Atlanta assigned to a large Hispanic missionEach one of us will suffer, and probably has suf-in Northeast Georgia. A church 10x the size offered, this past year. Priests, seminarians, fathers, the small parish I grew up in, the size and themothers, children, no one is exempt. However, scale were often such that I really needed to takeno one is exempt from the love of God either. In a breath myself. Immersed in a different culture,your service, in your roles as Knights, remember challenged by a busy schedule, living the realitiesto take a deep breath, and to invite the Lord into of parish life so different from the stable routinethe present moment. Please keep all priests and of seminary. I really could have benefited fromseminarians in your prayers, that we are able to a deep breath, maybe two or three, at differentdo the same amidst the daily difficulties of a life points during this past year.I have learned an- of ministry.other language, served as an A/V director, and been involved in various ways in this community.God bless,But I also saw how easy it was to lose focus with- David DesPresin the business or the chaos. 105'