I have an almost opposite journey. Though not catholic I grew up Episcopalian, baptized as an infant, and confirmed at 12. My family went to church together when I was young, but as I grew older it was often just my dad and me. I always loved the liturgy though Episcopal hymns are very difficult to sing! When I met Dane, a Baptist who is not a fan of the liturgy, we opted to find a compromise and joined a Methodist Church. We became very involved and I began to learn a bit more about what it meant to have a relationship with Jesus. When Dane felt the call to ministry he decided that the structure of moving pastors in the Methodist church did not work for him and decided on Southern Seminary in Louisville. At that time the denomination was in good shape before the push to the right. We both ended up getting seminary degrees and had a great experience there. Our first church was a small county seat church that had employed a lot of seminary professors and students over the years. Dane decided to get his doctorate at the same time his parents moved to AZ for health reasons, so after about 3 1/2 years we moved to Tucson. Dane enrolled at the University of Arizona and pastored a small church 20 miles outside the city for $50 per week while I taught public school. Again the church was very ecumenical for a Baptist church and we ended up staying there for 31 years. Dane taught adjunct for Fuller Seminary and Golden Gate for a while. I loved the worship gatherings for Fuller because students from all forms of Christianity were there. The ecumenical perspective was amazing. Everyone shared the supper together.
When we moved to Cincinnati we found a more nondenominational church with a tad of liturgy and a tad of free church mixed together.
All of these experiences have shaped my faith. I still love a variety of experiences and listening to how the Holy Spirit reveals more and more about God and Jesus in so many different people, places, and ways.
I didn't know these aspects of your background and I'm grateful to know about the journey - I related to much of what you said, especially the bit about Catholicism being a clunky train we've chosen to carry us through this life and maybe on to the next.
"The sacramental paradox unfolded on our back patio with the neighbor’s dog barking over the fence, the eternal lightly breaking into linear time." <-- also this line slayed me; never stop writing
After being more physically present when you were at the beginning of this journey, this is so lovely to read. And I will be praying for Sam's vocation too!
LOVE this reflection!! Although i am a cradle catholic, in many ways i am a “revert” experiencing the fullness of the Catholic Church in my 40’s at which time I moved to a new location after a divorce to embark on a new job. I met amazing people at the new Catholic Church i joined there which prompted me to explore my religion with adult eyes in a new way. I too received the sacrament of the sick now twice…once upon my breast cancer diagnosis and next before surgery. My religion has fed me in many ways. I love the Saints and chat with them on a regular basis. Yes, there are many criticisms I could list, but like for u, i find being Roman Catholic has the best tool box for moving through a life of challenges and transcending them with eyes focused on the next life. Continued healing wishes and prayers on your breast cancer journey!
I have an almost opposite journey. Though not catholic I grew up Episcopalian, baptized as an infant, and confirmed at 12. My family went to church together when I was young, but as I grew older it was often just my dad and me. I always loved the liturgy though Episcopal hymns are very difficult to sing! When I met Dane, a Baptist who is not a fan of the liturgy, we opted to find a compromise and joined a Methodist Church. We became very involved and I began to learn a bit more about what it meant to have a relationship with Jesus. When Dane felt the call to ministry he decided that the structure of moving pastors in the Methodist church did not work for him and decided on Southern Seminary in Louisville. At that time the denomination was in good shape before the push to the right. We both ended up getting seminary degrees and had a great experience there. Our first church was a small county seat church that had employed a lot of seminary professors and students over the years. Dane decided to get his doctorate at the same time his parents moved to AZ for health reasons, so after about 3 1/2 years we moved to Tucson. Dane enrolled at the University of Arizona and pastored a small church 20 miles outside the city for $50 per week while I taught public school. Again the church was very ecumenical for a Baptist church and we ended up staying there for 31 years. Dane taught adjunct for Fuller Seminary and Golden Gate for a while. I loved the worship gatherings for Fuller because students from all forms of Christianity were there. The ecumenical perspective was amazing. Everyone shared the supper together.
When we moved to Cincinnati we found a more nondenominational church with a tad of liturgy and a tad of free church mixed together.
All of these experiences have shaped my faith. I still love a variety of experiences and listening to how the Holy Spirit reveals more and more about God and Jesus in so many different people, places, and ways.
I didn't know these aspects of your background and I'm grateful to know about the journey - I related to much of what you said, especially the bit about Catholicism being a clunky train we've chosen to carry us through this life and maybe on to the next.
"The sacramental paradox unfolded on our back patio with the neighbor’s dog barking over the fence, the eternal lightly breaking into linear time." <-- also this line slayed me; never stop writing
After being more physically present when you were at the beginning of this journey, this is so lovely to read. And I will be praying for Sam's vocation too!
LOVE this reflection!! Although i am a cradle catholic, in many ways i am a “revert” experiencing the fullness of the Catholic Church in my 40’s at which time I moved to a new location after a divorce to embark on a new job. I met amazing people at the new Catholic Church i joined there which prompted me to explore my religion with adult eyes in a new way. I too received the sacrament of the sick now twice…once upon my breast cancer diagnosis and next before surgery. My religion has fed me in many ways. I love the Saints and chat with them on a regular basis. Yes, there are many criticisms I could list, but like for u, i find being Roman Catholic has the best tool box for moving through a life of challenges and transcending them with eyes focused on the next life. Continued healing wishes and prayers on your breast cancer journey!
Count on my prayers Mary Ellen