The Pivot Point

Living in this world is a true joy! The “in” is the pivot point to happiness. We can find joy all around us, we can become the joy in our days, we can feel the joy in others, we can see the joy of the chaos and we can know the true joy of Christ. Living “in” and not “of” this world is the how, Jesus is the why. As Catholic Christians, we are called to be different from the rest of the world. God calls us to live a life of holiness and to remain steadfast in our faith unto the end. He gave us everything we need.

Our faith is rich. It is rich in sacraments, prayers, and scriptures, love and community, even when we don’t recognize it or share in the glory. It is all around us, and it has been there from the beginning. It is His plan. Life happens and there are times I feel lost and frustrated and find myself too invested in the things of the world. This is when I know I need to break apart those feelings, regroup and lean into what’s most important, Him! I head to Mass, Adoration, or Confession, sometimes all three because it is there that I am filled up again with God’s grace, my vessel is full, and I have that joy again.

Our faith is an integral part of who we are as a family. It has been such a gift to raise our children in our Catholic faith. No matter what was going on around us, just watching them grow in their own journey with God, letting them fall into Him, and even watching them walk away and return to Him at times, has been such a gift. A gift that only God can unwrap.

The idea of in not of exists in our children’s lives as well. I remember many times when our children would be struggling with their faith, their friends, their life, their purpose. Completely normal, just hard. It wasn’t until they got involved in volunteer work, mission trips and serving on teen retreats that they began living in the world and actively participating in it rather than being a spectator of the world, sitting on the sidelines or merely comparing themselves on social media. Serving others became an altruistic experience for us all. Our entire family jumped in, volunteered along their side, and felt the togetherness of making our mark on the world, giving them the purpose they needed and receiving purpose we never realized we needed too.

Living in the world, but not of it, is a concept rooted in the teachings of Jesus Christ and found throughout the Bible. It holds onto a deeper set of understandings and values that are rooted in faith and service. The simplest form of this is to serve others, show gratitude and find joy in the beauty around us rather than the things we own or are trying to obtain.

We are in this world together, why not live that way. The joy around us is endless and contagious when we are ready to seek it. Our faith is rich. We are a beacon of light in a world of darkness, the extent of that all depends on the pivot point.

My prayer for you today is that you live in the joy, find the glory in all things good and when you come to know your pivot point, you show up with boldness and make it an integral part of your journey to Heaven.

Together in Prayer. Hand in hand.