What came to me immediately was that the graces gleaned by taking these journeys are purgatorial graces. We do not always like what we find when we study ourselves with the light of God’s grace and clarity. Self-correction, adjustments, and ‘owning’ our shadows come in wave after wave as we advance. Some might say this sounds like a negative experience and yes, it can be a bit painful at first.  Yet, somehow, in this awareness of our responsibility for mistakes we find an odd relief, an inexplicable calm. Why? Because propping up a false set of thoughts and thinking is exhausting. It is also the opposite of creativity. One must be free to be creative.

In the Backpack courses and culture, we try to bring our temptations and unruly thinking to the surface so that we can do the hard work to get rid of that which does not serve a peaceful life. All of our teachings will aim at bringing us closer to direct contact with God, thus, direct contact with our own condition on each day given to us by the Lord, who is the only master of time. Asking ourselves questions about our thoughts can be an act of the greatest courage because often, we will not like what we find. That’s the point. That’s the exercise. That’s the job. And here is the question:

At Backpack, we are committed to developing programs that give good tools which can result in better outcomes in the lives of others. We need servant leaders, people who are willing to begin their own transformations and then offer the good thing to others. In this time of constant media interference in our thoughts and thinking patterns, people must be offered the opportunity to think their own thoughts and find their own best patterns of thinking.

Are you a teacher, principal, or homeschooling parent? You are most likely gearing up for the Back-to-School season. Now is the time to order The Backpack Program for your September start!  Why should I use The Backpack Program for my school or homeschool classroom?  1. Your students will hugely benefit! This one is straightforward and the main reason to run this course. Through this program your students will be exposed to crucial concepts such as self-awareness and choice, anxiety and stress management, healthy relationships, help-seeking behaviour, interrupting ruminating and unhealthy thought patterns, etc. This program prompts students to develop their own identity and hold onto it in what can be an increasingly busy and confusing world. 

I first experienced the Backpack for Young Adults in 2018 in Ireland. I was 19. When I first learned the material, my mind was blown. My initial impressions were I can’t believe I wasn’t aware of such important life skills and Everyone needs this program. The Backpack combines psychology and spirituality in a simple and transformative way. I was able to learn about how my brain works and that people have the ability to rewire their brains and change their thought patterns. I loved deepening my relationship with God through Contemplative Prayer and learning to effectively calm my mind and body.

I think what really set these particular courses apart from others was the human formation part of it, where we were really being asked to delve into the “why” of what we do, to grow in self-awareness, to look at our lives as part of a complete whole, and say okay, this is who I am right now, what got me here? And how can I be the better person that I want to be, what are those habits that I do now that maybe aren’t as helpful? How can I start to move away from them, but also, why am I doing it?