I won't lie - it's been very difficult being Catholic in a sea of Protestants. I can count on one hand the Catholics I am close to. I lived in the Protestant world for 17 years, so I had the opportunity to surround myself with Protestants, almost all of whom are anti-Catholic. (Actually, I can't think of anyone who isn't anti-Catholic.)
I've let the thought enter my mind at least dozens of times, "Why not quit? I could quit and go back to Protestant life and everything would be easy again. Imagine, no more arguing. That would be soooooo nice, so easy..."
St. Peter's words respond in my head, "But Lord, to whom shall I go?"
Once you've sought the fullness of the faith, you can't turn back. Plain and simple. If I imagine walking away from the Eucharist, my body literally feels slight trembling.
And so I stay. I carry on.
The words of Pope Francis have touched me so much already, and he's only been pope for what, like 6 weeks? He said to young people at St. Peter's Basilica at the 50th World Day of Prayer for Vacations on April 21st, “Listen for the voice of Jesus and bravely ask him what he wants of you.”
This encourages me to the core. I know the Catholic Church is where Jesus wants me to be. It certainly takes bravery to be willing to go wherever he asks me to go, including when I asked him to show me what he wanted his church to be, and he lead me to the Catholic Church. I didn't have any idea I would end up here. But I asked, and here is where he wants me to be.
So by the grace of God go I....
kristy
