T
T_Hope
Guest
Hi Friends,
Things are going well. Happily, we have a tremendous RCIA program. And I’m ok with the dismissals now. Probably due in large part to the fact that they are so worthwhile I wouldn’t want to miss out!
When last I posted, I was concerned about friends. It does seem that some people, particular those of my former (mormon) faith, have changed with respect to the way they choose to interact with me. Some are not hiding the fact that they want to “save” me from Catholicism. They are, after 14 years, going out of their way to act as friends where they have not been before in what appears to be a unified effort to save me.
Thankfully, not everyone is on this wagon. Some other friends still march to the beat of their own drummers and while that is refreshing as always, it is not as satisfying to me as it once was. For the first time in awhile I had lunch with a long-time friend today. I used to talk to her about things that troubled me, and I could tell that she misses those conversations. Lunch was comfortable, but she was digging for information about personal stuff that I no longer feel the need to discuss. So the experience was trying to be “same old, same old” and I realized I am NOT the same as I was. I am in a very different place than where we used to be together. She is not religious and so I’m not sure how this friendship is going to evolve now that I’ve found faith in God. She has been a special friend for a long time and I do not want to close that door.
After years and years of turmoil, my soul is experiencing a welcome peace which I have never known before. And rather than being happy for me, some seem troubled by the change as though they miss the drama or something.
So, another shift is apparently in the making. A shift in the nature of existing friendships, and joyful acceptance of new Catholic friends. I just feel relationships changing and in a way I don’t know how to handle. Does that sound funny? It does to me. I’m not used to feeling … happy!
Hope
Things are going well. Happily, we have a tremendous RCIA program. And I’m ok with the dismissals now. Probably due in large part to the fact that they are so worthwhile I wouldn’t want to miss out!
When last I posted, I was concerned about friends. It does seem that some people, particular those of my former (mormon) faith, have changed with respect to the way they choose to interact with me. Some are not hiding the fact that they want to “save” me from Catholicism. They are, after 14 years, going out of their way to act as friends where they have not been before in what appears to be a unified effort to save me.
Thankfully, not everyone is on this wagon. Some other friends still march to the beat of their own drummers and while that is refreshing as always, it is not as satisfying to me as it once was. For the first time in awhile I had lunch with a long-time friend today. I used to talk to her about things that troubled me, and I could tell that she misses those conversations. Lunch was comfortable, but she was digging for information about personal stuff that I no longer feel the need to discuss. So the experience was trying to be “same old, same old” and I realized I am NOT the same as I was. I am in a very different place than where we used to be together. She is not religious and so I’m not sure how this friendship is going to evolve now that I’ve found faith in God. She has been a special friend for a long time and I do not want to close that door.
After years and years of turmoil, my soul is experiencing a welcome peace which I have never known before. And rather than being happy for me, some seem troubled by the change as though they miss the drama or something.
So, another shift is apparently in the making. A shift in the nature of existing friendships, and joyful acceptance of new Catholic friends. I just feel relationships changing and in a way I don’t know how to handle. Does that sound funny? It does to me. I’m not used to feeling … happy!
Hope
May God bless you and the friends you have!