Musings of a Catholic Convert

Back from vacation and, as expected, I'm swamped with work.  The workday hasn't even started yet and I already feel the weight of what is about to fall on me.  Oh well.  I had a good vacation and I enjoyed seeing my grandmother.  I'm even a bit relaxed.  

NOW ARE YOU READY?

Dudes, we are in EASTER!  I would love to hear about your parish's Easter Vigil celebrations, especially from those of you who have recently been brought into the Church.  DETAILS PLEASE. I would love to hear from any "Catholic convert" out there.  What is your story?  Seriously, people, join this Catholic blog community and share your story with us.  If you know people who have just come into the Church, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE ask them to consider creating a free Catholic blog on this site.  Not only will it be encouraging for us to read their conversion stories, but it will be great for us to be able to minister to their families through our prayers and encouragement.

This is going to be fun!

Completing a manuscript is no easy feat.  It's nothing you can just whip out in a few minutes, days, or weeks.  Writing is every bit as much a discipline as it is a charism and/or skill.  I don't have the charism of writing (at least I doubt very seriously that I do, else I would have WAY more readers commenting), but I feel compelled to write.  Right now, the most compelling thing for writing is my story.  I want to put it all to paper before the little details slip from my mind.  I want to be able to look back not just on "the big stuff" of critical moments and crises of faith, but I want to see the whole story in all its detail.  Once that is done, I want to condense it into a handy book and get it published.  

Anyway, that was my thought for the day.  Writing can be frustrating.  

If you have a charism for writing, please join this catholic blogging community.  You can teach me.

I am scheduled to appear on television Monday.

I'll be Marcus Grodi's guest on EWTN's "The Journey Home" television program.

The Journey Home airs on Monday's at 7pm Central on EWTN.

Since I got my invitation, people have been telling me that they are going to watch me and that they will be praying for me.  Well, folks, I'm calling in those favors.  I want your prayers.  Why?  Not just because of my nerves, but because of what I feel is riding on this show appearance.  You see, I've been wanting to be on Marcus' show for a while because I feel that the way God has dealt with me over the past 15 years has a message for cradle Catholics, Catholic converts, and even non-Catholics, whether they are exploring the Church or not.  I have seen such a HUGE spiritual change in my life that I want others to know THIS IS POSSIBLE.  It's not psychological, it's not triumphalism, it's not emotional, it's not anything people might seek to use as a label to "excuse away" what has happened TO me and IN me.  The answer is one word - Grace.  Grace, not just a concept of kindness or mercy, but ACTUAL supernatural grace has changed EVERYTHING.  I'll never be the same again.  

How will I convey that to the global audience watching EWTN?  I've been wrestling with this for weeks, trying to shorten my testimony to fit in the allotted time and agonizing over which details have to be left out.  Many of you have read my story before, and many of you have heard portions of my testimony in the various talks and sessions I've delivered over the last five years.  Those posts and those witnesses only barely scrape the surface of what has occurred in my life by God's love and mercy.  And, yes, that's why the book is in the works.  But, back to my request, I want your prayers.  I know and I'm 100% sure that the Holy Spirit is in charge and that He will provide me with the right things to say.  This is His gig, not mine.  I am also 100% sure that God uses the prayers of the faithful to work and move.  After all, we are family, co heirs with Christ and fellow laborers for His Kingdom.  So will you pray for me?  I know the answer, and I appreciate your willingness to support me.  

I feel like I've been mauled by wild cougars or angry leprechaun.  Monday's just are not my day of the week.  However, I am mega super ultra excited about one particular Monday.  March 10 I will have the opportunity to be a guest on The Journey Home television program, hosted by Marcus Grodi.  I'm both excited and nervous about the opportunity.  It has been a little while since I was in front of a camera.  However, I'm trying not to think about the fact that I'll be on a worldwide live television broadcast.  It does me no good to worry about it.  What I have to focus on is being myself and sharing what God has done in my life.

Do you want a sneak preview?  Then I suggest you do one of two things.  

1.  Search this blog for my posts: Why Catholic?

2.  Go to my ministry page where they are already indexed for you. 

I would appreciate it if you prayed for me.  You know, while I'm thinking about prayer, I could use your prayers also for a personal intention of mine.  I can't go into details online, but there are two things I'm praying about that could sure use the prayer support.  Thanks in advance.