When you meet someone who you want to help to know the love of God make sure to find out what they love. Is it sports? Is it books? Is it theatre? Is it democrats or republicans? Is it gardens?…

To be a paid Catholic speaker is not the goal. The goal is to be a disciple of Jesus Christ.

I am not so unique in the history of salvation. Recall, for example, that God promised Abraham, an old man married to Sarah, who was equally aged, that Abraham would have “descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky.” (Gen 26:4). Abraham and Sarah actually laugh at this, but when their son was born, they named him “Laughter” (Isaac).

That’s it, in my book. Those are the only reasons not to discern religious life. I’m writing this because I remember the plethora of “reasons” I invented to not discern. I remember my intense desire to run away from the question “Is God calling me?”

My parents thought that this would be the best way to receive my faith formation; but in reality, it destroyed it. I was taught textbook religion. Things were forced on me in a way that just drew me further and further away through the years.

Home is a four-letter word that people either regard with fond memories and can’t wait to visit or view as a foreign land of which they were once a part. For me, it’s the latter…

He didn’t love me. He didn’t love me because he didn’t know how. His “promise” of endgame wasn’t his to give as a 14-year-old boy

A good takeaway that I learned, which maybe you can use as well, was to take a step back and watch what the people around me were saying, and observe if it was creating bonds or creating divides between them.

If you are going to get out of depression, you need to let yourself feel the things you are actually feeling and let those feelings move you to do safe/productive actions. Workout, sing, play music, punch a punching bag, laugh, etc.

It was easier for me to say I was fine, I didn’t need help, and to say I forgive than to verbalize what had happened. The day I chose to tell my mom what had gone on, was the day I chose to let it hurt. And it hurt like hell. But it was worth it!