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Yesterday, I went to see what was the first picture I ever posted on my page.
This is it from August 14, 2013.
I didn’t write anything. It didn’t get any likes. Nothing.
Back then, I called my page “Passionate Purpose,” which was often taken in the wrong way.
As I looked through my first posts over ten years ago, I cringed a bit at my writing and photography skills. For a long time, I only had about one or two people liking anything I said and they were mostly family members.
Believe me, those first few years were frustrating. Gaining no traction, my husband heard weekly about how I was going to throw in the towel, yet, I just kept going.
Overtime, I changed my name to “Catholic Pilgrim” and I, as my brother would say, “found my why.” With that came clarity and new wind in my sails.
The biggest temptation I aways face is making this about me. I must always remind myself that I started this page for love of God and my Catholic Faith.
Why do I tell you all this?
Well, it is tempting when God gives a calling, a mission, or a talent to use, to wait until you’ve got everything all figured out. Or to wait until you are really good at it.
Don’t wait. The struggles, the trials, the “figuring it out as you go,” is part of the process. You learn so much in that journey. There is no path to sainthood that is easy or perfect; in fact, it’s a lot of falling on your face and having God pick you back up.
Think of the North American martyrs we honor today. What if they had waited until they had mastered the Indian languages first, or until there were comfortable buildings to live in especially during harsh Canadian winters, or until relationships with the Indians were such that all were best friends?
Well, if they’d have waited for that, they would never have done anything.
Conditions are rarely perfect for the journey, Catholic Pilgrims. It takes time to hone skills and talents meant to be used for God’s service, but you gotta start somewhere. God will bless the pilgrimage He’s called you to if you trust Him and have faith that He will see you through.
Live the Faith boldly and travel well this Thursday.
I made a video the other day for my other social media accounts of this chapel which is found on the 6th floor of Mercy hospital in Springfield, Missouri. While dog watching for my dad last summer, my son and I went on an expedition in town looking for pretty Catholic Churches and found ourselves in a hospital. I was stunned at the beauty of this chapel and was so happy to know that such a lovely, joyful, peaceful place could be found in a hospital where things can sometimes feel lonely, sorrowful, and anxiety-riddled. The body is not the only thing that needs healing. A man commented on the video and said, "No elaborate chapel in a hospital. Seems to me to be a waste of funds that could help provide better health care." Judas? Are you here? Get your hands off that bottle of nard. Nothing drives me more crazy than when people try to strip away the true, the good, and the beautiful. For some reason, the beautiful is always the first to be axed, all in the name of saving money for some "noble" cause. Leaving aside the absurdity that the amount of money spent on this chapel could somehow provide funds for health care into perpetuity, it boggles my mind when people see something beautiful and conclude that humans don't need it. I hate being in hospitals where white walls disorient like snow blackouts and time and fresh air feel like fever dreams. Imagine shuffling around bare, sterile halls only to stumble upon this beautiful space where you can come and take a break from the worry and the monotony of hospital living. Then imagine stumbling into a bare chapel; just another white space void of any richness and meaning where you are supposed to pray. Yet, it feels no different than the hospital cafeteria. But, hey, at least they saved funds for two hours worth of health care. God creates beautiful things; man is meant to imitate Him. Beauty isn't a negotiable transcendental. We need it. It is not noble to call for the removal of beauty; it is noble to call for more of it to enhance the human experience and help us get in touch with the Divine. Live the Faith boldly and travel well, Catholic Pilgrims.
Continue ReadingIn my 20's in college, I was an outspoken student. In my philosophy class, I was not liked by my professor as I constantly challenged what he was trying to teach. To be clear, nothing of what he taught had anything to do with philosophy, but more his political agenda. Open debate was not encouraged by him at all, in fact, I was punished for it. I think it's fairly safe to say that I wasn't the teacher's pet in Women's Studies either. However, at this time, I was not going to church, not reading my Bible, and not living in anyway according to Christian values. Consequently, while there was a lot of truth in what I said when I debated, I lacked wisdom and charity. The reason for this, is that I relied on my own power and never once asked the Holy Spirit for help. When I first started my social media accounts, I was a new convert to Catholicism and I still had a lot to learn. I, also, needed to break the habit of relying on my own power to engage with dissenters. It took a long time for me to invite the Holy Spirit into my writings. See, many will tell you that we are just supposed to be nice, not cause waves, or argue in anyway. I say nonsense. Christianity is an evangelizing faith--we are called to bring the Good News of Christ. Our faith life is not meant to be lived hiding behind closed doors, fearful to engage. Christ specifically told us, "I have come to set the world on fire, and I wish it were already burning! I have a terrible baptism of suffering ahead of me, and I am under a heavy burden until it is accomplished. Do you think I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I have come to divide people against each other!" Does this mean that Jesus wants us to be attack dogs that rudely proclaim the Good News? No. But, just the nature of bringing the truth to people will cause division. There's no way around it. In our evangelizing efforts, we must ask the Holy Spirit to come to our aid to help us be clear, concise, charitable, and calm. I have learned over the years that without the Holy Spirit, I fall back into my old ways from college. But with the Advocate's help, I do a much better job. Have a blessed Pentecost Sunday, Catholic Pilgrims.
Continue ReadingFor this week's small-town church showcase, let's go all the way across the country, shall we? We've spent a lot of time on the eastern side; now let's move to the west. (Side note: My military family has done 5 cross-country moves. And just to let you know, the States in the west are big.) We find ourselves in Snowflake, Arizona today. When one of you sent in this photo, I laughed at the name. While I know that that Arizona does get snow at times, it still seems like an odd name for a desert state. But, it got its name from combining the last names of the two men that founded it: Erastus Snow and William Flake. Both men belonged to the LDS church. This church is Our Lady Of The Snow Catholic Church. While most of the town belongs to The Church of Latter Day Saints, this is still an active parish. While the building is plain and simple, I looked at photos of the inside and it really has a pretty altar. The deep red and dark blue coloring inside is nice, as well. Even though Catholics are outnumbered here, I know that this often brings about great bonding for a church community. You become very close and very grateful for what you have. I've spent a lot of time in Arizona and it's special to me, if for nothing else, then it's my best friend's home state. Even though I'm not a desert dweller (thought the military keeps pushing the issue), I do like Sedona, Flagstaff, and Santa Fe. So, if ever on the east side of Arizona, and you find yourself in Snowflake, attend Mass at Our Lady of the Snow. I'm betting you find a welcoming crowd, Catholic Pilgrims. Live the Faith boldly and travel well.
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