 Being a part of such a huge event for the college is really fun to see how many different departments and faculty and students and ensembles are involved. It's just a really interesting way to see how different people's passions and involvements can come alive. I am always impressed by the enormous amount of people that come together to make this happen. So that's both a scary and amazing at the same time. Rehearsals are very intense. When we get into mass choir rehearsals and dress rehearsals, those get really long. They go late into the evening, but that's okay. Every minute of rehearsal that we've put in since the beginning of the semester, when we started working on these Christmas pieces, is totally worth it. Everyone's coming in with different things that are on their minds, and to get everyone to focus is really difficult. So in those last couple of rehearsals, I think that's when it clicks the most, because everyone knows that it's crunch time. It becomes imminent. We can't ignore it. We know that, oh my gosh, I understand how fast three days go, and in three days there are going to be 1,200 people sitting in this church watching me. And now with this year, that number is exponential, being broadcast to the world. Without question, my favorite part of CNCC is observing and watching the students when we actually get to the Christmas in Christ chapel performances. To me, I get my most gratification from watching the students take ownership and enjoy themselves. Before every performance in CNCC, all of the choirs come together after warming up and robing and all the stress of getting ready. We all take a moment to come together, hold hands, and have a moment of prayer. And as we process out into the chapel, everyone sings Silent Night. It's a wonderful moment of spirituality and community, and it makes me feel so blessed to be here. I live for the moments where we're in CNCC and the hair on the back of my neck stands up, and I don't know why I have tears in my eyes, but all of a sudden they're there. And that I get to know that that was happening all around me and in ways that I can't describe. As one of the chaplains here at Gustavus, I'm reminded that some define excellence as doing common things in very uncommon ways. And that's the essence of Christmas in Christ chapel. It is common to celebrate Christmas. Billions of people do it, and they've done it so for thousands of years, but no one celebrates it like we do here at Gustavus. In Christ chapel, a beautiful space with amazing, talented students and staff and faculty. I'm excited for this year, and I look forward to all there is to come.