lights were turned off for the night. I brushed my teeth by the glow of my cell phone
and then promptly fell asleep only to be the last one up in the morning.
Staying up late and sleeping in like the rockstar I am was fun, but provoked this:
"Brittany, can I tell you something?"
BUSTED. I knew one of my roommates had to be bothered by my late
coming and awakening. We were at The Influence Network Conference -
holy loads of ladies everywhere and I was epically failing in the conscious
charity department.
"Uuuuuh sure," I said bracing myself for a gentle lecturing on roommate etiquette.
"I've never met a Catholic who is a believer."
This roommate was so serious. So sincere.
She went on to explain that most Catholics she knew were just going through
the motions and were sadly void of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
I just kept nodding my head, "I know, right?I know these Catholics too."
I was so happy to be the one standing in that void for her;
representing Catholics everywhere who do have a heart for Jesus Christ.
All the half-hearted genuflecting, fly swatting sign of the cross making,
zombie walking up to communion PEOPLE - I see you. And so do others.
I know so many Catholics who get their rosaries all bunched up when they
are asked, "Do you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ?"
Most dismiss it with arrogant flair, "That's a protestant thing."
NO. That's a Christian thing.
So yes. Yes, to all who have ever asked me. I DO have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
And I'd say it gets super personal in the confessional and every time I receive
Him in the most precious body and blood at communion. Faith is my way of life.
And while we're on it, I was saved too. April 26th, 1987.
Baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Forever and ever, amen. And I renew that promise my parents made
for me as an infant EVERY SINGLE DAY.
Wear your faith on your sleeve, dear friends.
The world needs to see it.
Admire you and applaud you for wearing your heart on your sleeve the way you do. I love you for it! And have had this conversation with a few people before. Makes me sad that there aren't enough Catholics showing that we can and do in fact love our Jesus as much as they do. :)
ReplyDeleteI feel the same way, Anna! So saddened by the lack of Catholics who will really let their lives be a living gospel. Praying and hoping to stir a flame - to bring forth a wild fire of ZEAL for other people - we have to be brave now. Braver than ever I think. It's dark out there, and in the words of Kari Jobe: "We gotta we gotta we gotta let our light shine."
DeleteThanks for reading and sharing today, friend!!! You are a blessing to me <3
Good for you, walking the walk -- for standing out as a rockstar Christian/CATHOLIC! Live the FAITH!! God bless you and your example to the world. :)
ReplyDeleteT H A N K Y O U, Laurel!!! It's SO good to walk the walk with OTHER faithful followers! Makes the journey a joy. I'm so glad you follow along here. God bless you too!!! Keep shining XO
Delete(Second attempt at commenting with my actual name!!) Brittany, I can't get over your posts. I know I gush at you and Anna all the time, but I just feel so grateful that both of you are able to articulate what I feel inside my heart and don't know how to or find the time to put into a blog. I pray for both of you every day so God strengthens you on this huge mission. So very grateful. It took MANY years until I realized that Jesus Christ really IS my best friend. It took realizing: Wow, look what we've been through together and he is still around. He must really care about me. Suddenly it struck me, a special grace I think, that all those years of praying to be best friends with him and over time and with lots of misery and mercy, we'd bonded forever. Your post is just beautiful. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteWell, I am flattered, Christina! Truly, it is humbling to read responses such as this. It's all Jesus. Thank you for your prayers, support, cheerleading, love!!!
Delete"He is STILL around..." made me laugh!!! It's awesome how CRAZY He is about us... especially when we stop and realize it! Stay bonded forever!!!
XO
Beautiful beautiful. Love this so much. Thanks for sharing, Britt!
ReplyDeleteAlways happy to see your "face" around here, Cara Howard!!! Your joy is contagious - and helps keep me energetic when I feel it! Thank YOU for reading and being part of this community, lady!!! <3
DeleteGreat post! I'm Catholic too and completely believe in my personal relationship with Jesus Christ. I've seen him work in some pretty awesome ways. I'm sure you made a great difference in your roommates life after that conversation! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThe Catholics are coming outta the woodworks!!! So good to see it! Keep being a FLAME, Beth!!! The world needs to see! You are awesome :-)
DeleteGreat post! Way to be brave & tell the truth for your family : )
ReplyDeleteSo happy to share this piece of my heart with you all!
DeleteThis was really beautifully put and as a Protestant I appreciated reading it. Thanks for sharing it!
ReplyDeleteHi Heidi! There is SO much that we can appreciate from each other. Christ shines in so many ways - and I LOVE that. God bless you <3
Deleteyes, yes, yes, yes, YES.
ReplyDeleteI was raised southern Baptist and I am sorry to say I heard Catholics maligned from our pulpit. I didn't realize it growing up, but that was wrong.
It was meeting Catholics who took their faith seriously to change my mind. It also took confronting my Catholic heritage; both my parents were raised Catholic and rambling around cathedrals in Europe moved me in a way I'm yet seeking to understand.
The thing is, Protestants and Catholics alike fall into the trap of letting routine, motions, and stale living seize and chain the vibrant faith Christ intended and died for us to have. I'm tired of drawing lines and pointing across them; I want now to smash walls like Christ split the veil and have my heart meet yours in a mingling of the holy.
So thank you for starting the conversation, Brittany, because it's a conversation we need to have.
Wow - I'm so glad you could share all of that with me and everyone here, Annie. I think your post here just goes to show how much can be MISUNDERSTOOD. Such a shame. I very much "dislike" how Christians go around bashing other Christians - we need to work together, support one another, encourage all to run the race towards Christ... not out of fear or shame or duty... but out of LOVE!!!
DeleteYou put everything so beautifully. I want to reach through virtual reality and hug you!
awesome! you are such a great writer. so encouraging, glad I've met you in the blogging world!
ReplyDeleteHey Julia! I feel the same way about you!!!
DeleteThis post. YES. I related to every single thing you wrote (well, except that I was the college roommate who woke up super early and tried to be quiet lol). This was the very reason I hesitated on "coming back" to the Catholic church. Then I found the Catholic blog world...there were believers out there, like you, who had similar thoughts to mine, and were Catholic! Thank you for encouraging us to be braver about/in our faith as Catholics. :-)
ReplyDeleteAw my Gabriela friend! I still think of you and pray for you often!!! Hope you are doing so well. WELCOME BACK - WELCOME HOME!!! So glad that we can all encourage one another in our faith journeys. God is good!!!
DeleteI think it's also important to remember there are just as many non-Catholic Christians who aren't "believers". I think the reason the Catholics get a bad rep is because supposed non-Catholic Christians don't do anything whatsoever with their faith. Therefore, other devout Christians don't ever think about them as Christians. With Catholics, there are a lot of people who go to Mass, but who aren't devout in their faith. Catholicism is a heritage, somewhat like Judaism. That's why there are so many people identifying themselves as it, even if they don't live their faith.
ReplyDeleteI also want to point out that even if all you believe is that Jesus is the Son of God, that is a personal relationship. Granted, it's not a deep one, but it still is a personal relationship.
Interesting point on Catholicism being a heritage... maybe THAT is indeed the reason why there are so many walking around without knowing what that REALLY means. Again, so sad and I only hope to stir up Catholics and non-Catholics alike to get on FIRE for their faith so that the Kingdom can spread in this dark world.
DeleteGod wants our hearts. Let's give them to Him!!!
Hey Brittany! I found this post through Twitter somehow, and I just wanted to say thanks for writing it. I'm Catholic, and I didn't realize until I attended Lutheran high school and Evangelical college what a negative connotation our denomination has for some Protestants. I'd always been surrounded by Catholics who had a personal relationship with God, so I didn't understand why so many people suddenly questioned my Christianity when I got older (especially since I felt many Catholics did a better job of living out their faith than the Protestants who were coming across as so judgmental). After talking with an aunt who converted to be a Lutheran, I finally have a better understanding of it: she explained that Catholics aren't often as "out there" about their faith. We're not necessarily as "preachy" or charismatic about things as other denominations, which may have unfortunately led to this negative view. Just because we're a bit more private doesn't mean we don't have relationships with God and don't seek to share our faith with others!
ReplyDeleteThanks again for writing. I'm glad to have found you!
That's awesome that you were able to grow up surrounded by faithful Catholics! I can say the same!!! Such a blessing. It's only in growing up and being exposed to more "world" that I've realized the negative vibe we are all talking about here. It saddens me to see people walk away from the Catholic Church simply because they are looking for a community to be more "out there" .... because we ALL should be out there! Ya know?!
DeleteIt's true - just because some of us are a little more private does NOT mean we don't have personal relationships with God. Each one is writing their own love story with the Maker!!! I'm just aching to scream my song from the mountain top! Haha!!!
Glad you stumbled into the field! Welcome. XO
i take a lot of offense to this post as i am a devout catholic. i don't go shouting my faith from the mountain tops, but just because i don't doesn't make me any less loved by Christ.
ReplyDelete"half-hearted genuflecting, fly swatting sign of the cross making,
zombie walking up to communion PEOPLE - I see you. And so do others."
who are you to judge others? and you call yourself a catholic/christian? do you think that God admires you for calling people out like this instead of simply being a loving person?
i don't judge. i love. something you might want to consider. i feel sorry for you and your mightier-than-thou words.
Sorry you are offended. Maybe you should have stopped reading? I realize not everything I share on this blog is for everyone.
DeleteI had hoped to encourage people to really live their faith (quiet or loud) with their whole hearts and not to just go through the motions... "half-hearted genuflecting, fly swatting sign of the cross making, zombie walking up to communion PEOPLE - I see you. And so do others." ... because I think we'd be lying to ourselves if we denied that these people exist. I didn't point fingers or call out names. I'm just talking "in general."
In the end, we will each stand before God. He's the judge. I never assumed to take that place. Sorry again if that was misunderstood. This is merely a testimony and inspiration. No judgment being dealt in any one direction. Just calling for people to put their hearts (again, in whatever way they feel called) into their relationship with God.
God bless you always.
Obviously this person doesn't know your heart or your intentions Brittany. It seems that they are the ones judging you ie your intentions with the words you said which is ironic bc they are the ones accusing you. Actions that lack a fervent heart come across as half hearted so let's call that what it is. It's not judging a persons heart its making an observation of an outward action. I dislike the anonymity of the internet as it doesn't promote an avenue for a genuine dialog. Anyway Brittany just pray for that persons healing bc they are probably dealing with something big to be accusing you like that.
DeleteThis was not a "judging" post. This was a post to gently remind people to not go through the motions but live their faith with passion. It gave me chills, made me want to be convinced of my faith. I never felt like I was getting smacked on the back of my hand. Well written. Thank you for this great read!
DeleteSusie B - yes, we need more genuine dialog - so wish "anonymous" would have been more open about who they are. It's ok though. Praying for ALL my readers and the community here in the field tonight <3 I appreciate your kind words!
DeleteArisa - You guys got to be honest with me as time goes on. I need good criticism (even if it is going to hurt my feelings) - because I want to be sharpened and tried by fire... I want this to be a space for God to work and I don't want to get in the way! THANK YOU for your love and friendship. You are too good to me!
DeleteI don't see anything about shouting your faith from the rooftops-- just kneeling reverently before Jesus Christ our Lord, Savior and King. I tend to get a little snappy too when I see people disrespecting the One I love and gave his life for me and stoops to house himself in our earthly tabernacle to be near ME. But I suppose I took it for granted too for much of my life. But for the grace of God go I....
DeleteKaty, it's all about love! Like you are saying. You love God so much it shakes you when you see blatant disrespect. Judgment is not needed... it just is what it is. We have to bring the Good News to life for people so they ARE moved to a deeper love, a richer relationship!!! Ahhhh sooooo good!!! Thanks for commenting and sharing your heart, friend! XO
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