Faith, Family, And Friends

I value being able to talk about my faith experience—the foundation of who I have become. Faith comes from within an individual’s inner self, and it is nurtured through life challenges. Faith is a gift from God that cannot be forced or coaxed. It is personal. The challenge we each face is how we choose to live our faith. For many years, I took my relationship with God for granted. But now, through my personal relationships and experiences, our relationship has become a significant part of who I am as a person. This did not happen overnight. For me, it has been a lifelong process of self-growth, which includes listening to my inner self as well as outside influences. As could be said for anyone, learning to listen to my inner self has given me a sense of genuine acceptance and serenity in my everyday life.  Perhaps by reading this book, you will be encouraged to take the time to listen to your own inner self in today’s fast-paced world that we live in.

One of the most powerful Catholic authors of the twentieth century is Thomas Merton, a Trappist monk. I often reflect on his words: “When I have found my truest self, I will have found God.” As an adult, I have become more open to the presence of mystery in my life. This gives me the determination to trust my inner self in choosing the path my life will take. I trust in my faith, accepting the things in life I cannot change. I make every effort to let go of things that I have no control over, and I focus on letting God take charge.

For me, this can be very difficult at times, because I have a tendency to want to fix things, and that is not always possible. I must learn to be patient. God has a plan. I know that God speaks to each of us. I must learn to have patience and to be still as I listen to hear what God is saying. Finding the time to do so can be easier said than done. I have tried to make it a priority.

God does not always answer my prayers in the way I want or think I need. Instead, He invites me to see life in a different way, a way I must be open to. I have seen this through my openness in becoming a lay minister. Growing up, neither teaching nor ministries were directions that I thought my life would take. Obviously, God had a different plan for the path that I would take in life. Sixteen years ago, I was asked to be a third-grade teacher’s assistant; after that, I was invited to be a youth minister, then given the chance to be a retreat director at my daughter’s high school, and then a director of lifelong formation at a parish. I said yes to the opportunity each time. I always felt God’s presence guiding me. I know it will continue to do so.

Over the past year, I have spent many months deciding about my future in ministry. During that year, my everyday life has been hectic, as I try to balance my family life and work life. So I had decided to accept where I presently was, because it was familiar and comfortable.

Subsequent to my decision, I had an accident requiring minor surgery, followed by time to recuperate. A special friend wrote to me sharing that my accident may have been God’s way of slowing me down long enough to listen to Him. I needed time to re-examine my decision; was it what I truly wanted to do or was it just the easiest path to take? In other words, God is in charge; I needed to slow down and listen!

This period of time turned out to be a gift in disguise from God.