Religious Education

My parents introduced me to God in the best way they knew how. Both Mom and Dad were raised Catholics, so of course, they raised their offspring in the same way. 

Part of the Catholic religion included infant baptism. I have a picture of being held by my Godparents while a gentle stream of holy water is poured over my head by a priest. 

Getting a little older, I made my first confession and first communion. The final formality was my confirmation, the induction as a member to the Catholic Church. I completed that while in junior high. 

Though my parents meant well and did the best they knew how to, the religious education they gave me and the formal rituals that were required of me, did nothing to nourish my faith. 

There was an important component missing; a relationship. I had no personal relationship with God, nor did anyone tell me of their personal relationship with God. 

It was years later, in my early twenties, that I heard the Gospel for the first time. A friend had invited me to church and the pastor presented the Gospel simply. The Gospel, he said, is the story of Jesus’ death on the cross. His death paid for our sin, once and for all.  His resurrection is proof that he conquered death. A few days after hearing the Gospel, I gave credence to it and believed it. Since then, I’ve been a Christ follower.

  Spiritual Parent

As a young Christ follower, I read the Bible, attended church, prayed and went to Bible studies. But, more than anything else, it was my relationship with an older woman by the name of Mary that nourished my faith and empowered me as a Christ follower.

Mary was twice my age, a widow and regular church attender. I don’t remember exactly how our relationship began. I know that I was drawn into a friendship with her because of her smile, sense of humor and a need. I needed more wisdom than I possessed at that time.  

One day, she invited me over for lunch and after that, it was natural for me to stop by her house to visit. But our conversations always went deeper than talking about the weather. Mary, like a parent, was interested in my well being, specifically, my spiritual well being. 

Mary was past the child rearing years whereas, I was in the throes of it all. She welcomed my questions about how to parent better and how to be patient with my prodigal son. She’d remind me that even though God was the perfect parent, his children were surely far from perfect.

Mary had completed 50 years of marriage before becoming a widow. In comparison, I was still fairly new at it. She once said to me that marriage forces us to grow up. Those words were not a reprimand, but they did cause me to consider my childish ways. 

Still uncertain about if my life was pleasing to God or not, Mary’s long relationship with God modeled neither pride, arrogance or immaturity. She told me that pleasing God was not the point. Like a good parent, He was already pleased with us, his children. 

          Why Bother?

Why bother adopting a spiritual parent? There are those who want us to grow up well in our faith walk. They are ready, willing, and able to share the matters of the heart. How do we find one? Sometimes, all we have to do is recognize our need.