tools for the journey

Well, it's been a while... and for that I apologize. I'll try to keep on writing these things as the school year starts. I hope to have some more ideas flowing.. hope at least :)

Hope these thoughts have helped some people, I got some good reviews from the parish bulletin readers.. so that's a plus.

Here is one, it's a sports metaphor. I love sports, I love my faith.. Here is the result.

In order to perform well, we need to have the right equipment. A hockey player needs to have his skates, a baseball player his mitt. Without the right tools the athletes cannot do what they need to do. A lacrosse player without his stick cannot score; a football player without his helmet will get hurt. These tangible objects we use in sports are necessary to help us accomplish the goals of the game. But having them does not make us a player. We need to use them when we play, and use them with love and passion for the game in order to be great.

A golfer can have an abundance of clubs, but if they only stay in his bag in the garage then is he a golfer? Transfer this idea to our faith. A person can hang the rosary from their mirror, but if they do not lift it down to pray with it, then what is its purpose?

We can have all the equipment to be a warrior for our faith, a crucifix predominately placed in the house, a rosary in our car, a usual seat at Sunday mass that is filled. But if we do not utilize these tangible objects with passion and love in a way that can drive our relationship with Christ deeper, then why are they there. We have the tools to bring us closer and make us champions for Christ. The tangible objects of our faith are gifts to us, God understands that we are physical beings, and so he acts in a physical way. He comes to us in a way we can understand, and he wants us to grow deeper. We need to keep pushing ourselves to expand our faith. Try to pray that rosary, not just watch it dangle from the mirror. Read the Bible; don’t use it as space filler on your nightstand. Experience the mass, do not just attend. These are things that can bring us closer to God and form us into true players of our faith.

We have the equipment, we just need to use them.