Catholic

Catholic Girl Journey

Debunking the Faith Myth

People of strong faith always seem so confident. Why don’t I feel that way?

I was pondering that thought while driving one day and and odd reference popped into my head: ducks. I remembered seeing some ducks while kayaking; they look so calm and serene, but you know underneath the water they are paddling like mad.

Life will always have challenges, whether they are the kind that we take on ourselves or ones that are thrust upon us. Practicing our faith does not make these challenges much easier and it certainly does not take them away. But faith can provide perspective to the challenge. It helps us take a step back to  reflect, “What does God want me to learn from this?” Faith provides  the opportunity to ask God to help us through the challenge and asking for God’s help can bring a sense of peace.  In private, we may be praying fervently for our challenges, but to the world we can present the calm serenity of the duck gliding across the water.

You know that God loves you. You know God will always help you. And yet, the challenge can still create a feeling void. Even with prayer, there may seem like there is no answer to the challenge.  Sometimes we need to let go of the “non-feeling” and just trust in God. Tell Him you believe in his plan for your life. Continue to work on meeting the challenge on your part. Continue to ask for God’s help. Keep paddling forward.

Ironically, as I was pondering  this post while driving, it started raining; actually pouring is more like it. At first I thought maybe God doesn’t like this idea. But the rain started just as I reached the point in my drive home where I was really familiar with the road. And I got mostly green lights. So then I thought maybe I’m on the right track. I may not feel confident with this challenge of writing posts, but maybe I need to keep paddling forward.

Catholic Girl Journey

Practice Makes a Saint

We’ve all heard the saying, “Practice make perfect.” So what does that mean in the life of faith?

When you think of practice, what comes to mind? Is it sitting at the piano, playing the various scales to the beat of a metronome? Or is it throwing a ball through a hoop again and again, making small changes to hand placement, balance, and body movement? Maybe it’s drawing a circle over, and over, and over again until it is perfect.

Just like any activity at which you want to become better, faith is all about practice. It’s not about doing things correctly all the time, it’s about practicing so as to continuously improve, coming closer to perfection. And just like with any other activity, you don’t tackle all the skills needed at once, but rather concentrate on perfecting one and slowly applying what has been learned to more advanced skills.

Since faith is a relationship with God, how can one “practice” a relationship? By getting to know him, by seeing God in every person, by recognizing his handiwork in all of creation. That’s why a life of faith is more than just following rules, treating people nicely or going to Church on Sundays.  It’s important to be at Mass on Sunday, not just to cross it off the list, but to be filled with God’s message, to help you hone the skill you are perfecting and to encourage you as you practice throughout the week.

Often in our culture, people who claim to be of a particular religious affiliation are held to a different standard. Part of that is understandable; it is good that a person can be known by their faith. Other times, it’s an expectation of perfection, forgetting that faith is  a journey and people can have good days and less than ideal days as they practice. It’s not an excuse to do whatever, but a call for mercy towards those that do not meet to the standards yet.

We are all on this faith journey, so it’s okay if you’re not perfect. It will take a lifetime to get to your goal. Practicing faith is continuing to deepen that relationship with God.  One day you may join Him in heaven. Since all who reach heaven are saints, then practice helps make a saint!

Catholic Girl Journey

Catholic Girl Journey

I have been inspired by the adult education at St. Isaac Jogues Catholic Girl Journeyto learn more about my faith and to share it with others. My faith has always been something personal and I see it as a one-to-one relationship with my Creator. However, in this time and place, there are many who do not know God or realize the personal relationship that He has with them. I want to share my perspective via a blog, not just to add to the noise and opinions, but to let Him speak through me to touch those that may not have experienced Him otherwise.

I’ve been a regular Sunday church-goer and do my best to go to at least one Mass during the week. I also spend an hour each week in our adoration chapel. But God has so many more dimensions than just those outlets. To know Him better is to seek Him out in many different ways. Sometimes it’s in the day-to-day activities, or through spiritual reading,sometimes it’s through a retreat or an educational setting. The Catholicism series from Fr. Robert Barron  offered in our parish was one such opportunity to be inspired, to talk about the points he made and reflect upon the perspective that he gives. Fr. Barron  has a way of taking very intellectual information and bringing to a level  I can understand. I was eager to  follow up with his New Evangelization series, which ended with a challenge to become disciples and spread the Word of God.

I consider myself a shy person; I’m not the one that initiates a hello. Sharing something so personal as my faith with others is rather intimidating to me. The adult education series has allowed me to “dip my toe” into sharing within a safe environment of my parish community. I  find it fascinating to hear others’ experiences with God (whether they believe or just call it coincidence) and I marvel about all the ways He touches people.

So how can a shy girl participate in the new evangelization of the Catholic Church? With a background in websites, it only makes sense that I try blogging for God. In the blog I will share my perspective and thoughts about the amazing faith that I try to practice everyday. Practice may make perfect, but it does not imply that my practice is perfect. It’s one step at a time, one day at a time that makes up life’s journey. Everyone’s life journey is also a journey of faith, and I’d like to invite everyone to walk with me.