Being bullied and rejected as a kid because of my weight stays with me to this day. We’re called to forgive those who’ve wronged us and I believe in the power of forgiveness. I’ve said the words, I’ve written about it publicly and I’ve even written letters to certain people, then burned them. To some degree it may have worked, but I still have problems meeting new people. I’m still shy in social situations. I still have trouble doing things for other people because of my irrational fear of rejection.
I’m always fighting to love more and think poorly of people less. I generalize, I condemn, and I make fun of people sometimes. I’m not proud of that. Still I know that through Reconciliation, prayer and study of our beautiful faith I continue to grow in hopes of loving my brothers and sisters the way I’m called to love them.
#Christ Renews His Parish has helped me progress greatly in this regard. Coming together with a group of men who are all on a spiritual journey, all trying to grow in love and faith, and all looking to connect with others in meaningful ways has helped me open up about the past and move on from it. If you are looking for connection, growth and a deeper relationship with #Jesus you owe it to yourself to see if Christ Renews is offered in your parish.
Allow me to share some verses about #loving others than speak to me in a special way…
1 John 4:19-21
19 We love because he first loved us. 20 If anyone says, “I love God,” but hates his brother, he is a liar; for whoever does not love a brother whom he has seen cannot love God[a] whom he has not seen. 21 This is the commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.
Phillipians 2:3-4
3 Do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory; rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves, 4 each looking out not for his own interests, but [also] everyone for those of others.
1 Corinthians 13:13
13 [a]So faith, hope, love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
It wouldn’t be a post on WitnessPath without a song. Enjoy this one from Switchfoot. The lyrics sum up my #struggle perfectly.
I’m trying to find where my place is
I’m looking for my own oasis
So close I can taste this
The fear that love alone erases
So I’m back to the basics
I figure it’s time I face this
Time to take my own advice
#Love alone is worth the fight
Love alone is worth the fight
And I never thought it’d come to this
But it seems like I’m finally feeling numb to this
The funny thing about a name is
You forget what the reason you were playing the game is
And it’s all an illusion
A 21st century institution
So I’m headed down the open road unknown
And we find what we’re made of
Through the open door
Is it fear you’re afraid of?
What are you waiting for?
Love alone is worth the fight
Love alone is worth the fight
We’re only here for a season
I’m looking for the rhyme and reason
Why you’re born, why you’re leaving
What you fear and what you believe in
Why you’re living and breathing
Why you’re fighting it and getting it even
Let’s go headed down the open road unknown
And we find what we’re made of
Through the open door
Is it fear you’re afraid of?
What are you waiting for?
Love alone is worth the fight
Love alone is worth the fight
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Oh! Oh!
Here we are, here we go
Where the road is our own
Hear it calling you home
Here we are, here we go!
Love alone is worth the fight
Love alone is worth the fight
Love alone is worth the fight
Love alone is worth the fight
Love alone is worth the fight
Have a joyous #Lent!
