FROM FRANK: FAITH LIVED IS LIFE BETTER LIVED

– August 13, 2021

Faith Lived Is Life Better Lived

Over the next few weeks, one of our parishioners, Frank Norton, will be sharing his life journey as a Catholic: how his faith has developed and grown over the years, how he lives out this faith on a daily basis, and lessons learned along the way. Please join us in following this series!

When troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.  For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. James 1:2-4

We can all feel unstable, worried, frustrated, at times.  With everything we have to say grace over everyday it’s no wonder we can get stressed out. Sometimes, it can seem too much, no end in sight, nothing will get resolved. But if we’re living our faith we’ve got God to help us resolve things. Faith is peace of mind, freedom, encouragement, energy, confidence in our ability to make good decisions and choices. Faith, based on our relationship with God, helps us form habits that transcend all aspects of our lives. We find ourselves automatically approaching every difficulty, setback and stressor with increased optimism and clear-headedness.

How often do your hear advice to “just compartmentalize it.” Like our identity is built of stand-alone silos:

  • the “me” of personality,
    • the family relationship,
      • the work personae,
        • the community/social face,
          • the spiritual life.

We’ve got a lot of different roles to play. And, each role has its own schedule priorities, its own practices, beliefs, and goals. When all this need for differentiation overlaps, we can feel conflicted. Do we drag along work issues when we get home to family? Which identity is the lowest on the priority schedule? Wouldn’t it be easier if we were just one, harmonious identity that kept us free from internal conflicts, clamoring priorities and different values for our multiple life roles? No more required breaks  – if we even have time – to “destress” as we transition from one role to another.

Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.

John 7:38

Fortunately, as usual, my friend Shelly was there for me as my faith “Jiminy Cricket” explaining and showing me how to harmonize roles and Live Life Better. As Shelly puts it, “at work I’m on the job, but I’m really working for God with Jesus as my manager. At home God is the head of our family and he wants the best for all us –– equally. In the community, Jesus points out the needs and feelings of others and how I can best respond with compassion, understanding and help.

Now, all my roles are wrapped seamlessly in my Catholic faith – priorities, schedules, values, faith beliefs, and the peace that comes from knowing my REAL IDENTITY.

And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. Mark 11:22-24