As we are all called to evangelize and . . . go make disciples . . . something we are always told is to share our “story”.
If you’re anything like me — and I’m sorry for that — you’re probably brushing that notion off and thinking you do not have a story. You’re just a plain, boring, ordinary Catholic.
I’m sorry, everyone, I really don’t have a story to tell.
I was born to two parents who got married in the Catholic Church, I was Baptized as an infant, I attended Catholic school from kindergarten through eighth grade, I had my First Holy Communion at age eight, I was Confirmed when I was in high school, I went to Mass every weekend while I was in college — and continued to do so all throughout my adult life — I don’t eat meat on Fridays, I pray the Rosary less than I’d like to, I made it through Fr. Mike Schmitz Bible in a Year podcast . . . in a year . . . and I, myself, got married in the Catholic Church last year.
So, as you can see, much like many of you, I assume, there is really nothing special about me. I do not have a story to tell. I didn’t have a wild knock-me-off-the-horse conversion, I never spoke in tongues, I never overcame any sort of chemical addiction or massive wave of despair, and I’m not all that outgoing. No one wants to hear my very minor faith journey.
That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.
I have questions
Now that we’ve established that I don’t have a story and people need to stop telling me to tell it, I’m going to disagree with myself.
If you look over to the left (or above if you’re reading this online), there are actually a few things that might spark discussion.
Maybe someone wasn’t Baptized and wants to know what that’s like.
Maybe someone didn’t go to Catholic school and wants to know what it was like.
Maybe someone isn’t going to Mass anymore and wants to know why I kept going.
Maybe someone doesn’t pray the Rosary, or at all, and wants to know more about it.
Maybe they have questions about Confirmation, or marriage in the Church, or any of the “boring” things that I do, or have always had in my life, as a Catholic.
Maybe someone has questions for you.
Maybe what you see in your life as boring, mundane, or nothing special, are the most awesome, special, and mysterious things to someone who doesn’t have any of that in their lives.
Maybe we do have stories to tell.
Tell the story
Most of us probably aren’t going to be appearing on an EWTN series or on a Lighthouse CD sharing our faith journeys, but we still have them.
More often than not, upon hearing the plea to tell my story, I’m still going to scoff at the idea and think I don’t have one to tell, but I also need to be ready in case someone wants to hear it.
Maybe there are a lot of people out there who would love to be the boring, normal Catholics that we are.
Let’s help them get there.
Take a moment to really think about what makes you Catholic.
If you want to be really fancy about this, take a moment to really think about what makes you a “boring” Catholic.
Do you have the courage and patience within yourself to admit that those things are your story?
Those are the things someone, who doesn’t have your life, might want to hear.
Going to Mass every week isn’t boring. A lot of people would love to be able to do that.
Praying before meals isn’t boring. A lot of people would love to do that.
Growing up in the faith, going to a Catholic school, or receiving the sacraments at a young age isn’t boring, a lot of people didn’t have that chance, and they want to know more.
So let’s all together realize we do have a story to tell.
We might not speak to a crowded hall about it, but maybe God means for us to have an audience of one person at the right time.
Thank you for reading.
I’m praying for you.