"Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you." (Zechariah 8:23)
I recently had a friend visit me from out of town. We had a lovely weekend with a vigil Mass, dinner with friends, and hiking, but one conversation stuck with me.
I am not sure what I did or said, but she told me she was impressed with how I shared my faith openly. I’m not a perfect Catholic, but my faith is an integral part of my identity. I’m not a good evangelizer, I don’t have good apologetics, and I am definitely not a theologian—my faith is just part of who I am. I mention it in conversation. I toss church photos into my Instagram.
I never thought I was doing anything extraordinary. I just show this part of myself like I show other parts of myself: what I am watching, what I am listening to, where I’m traveling, and you know, the Catholic stuff just flows right into it.
But it is extraordinary. Each of us bears witness to the unique presence of faith in our lives. Just as our journeys in the world are vastly different but still part of the human experience, our journeys with God are as varied and valuable to the body of Christ.
Your relationship with God is vital. People need to see it and hear it and experience it through their relationships with you. Just as the Trinity exists in eternal, perfect relationship, so too our experience can exist within our relationship with God. Invite people into that relationship.
Each of us bears witness to the unique presence of faith in our lives. // @br1gidClick to tweet
Wear your faith on your sleeve, so that those around you know they can tug at your garment and be led to the Lord.
Brigid Hogan is a midwestern graduate student who finds peace in lakes, the Mass, and fiction when she isn’t ensconced in schoolwork. Find out more about her here.