Walking on the Journey

Two years ago, right around this time, I wrote a post about my best friend who happens to be an atheist. It was one of my highest rated posts, with the largest number of views in the history of this blog. But that’s not all. It’s also the most meaningful to me for a very important reason.   After I wrote that blog I received an email from a lovely young woman named Jasmin, who told me that she, too, had an atheist friend named Thomas Romanelli whom she had introduced to “Footprints on the Journey.” She continued to say that through discernment and reading of the blog, he had changed his beliefs from atheism to Catholicism.     This year, I received a message from Romanelli, the former atheist, who told me that he had entered the Catholic Church at Easter!   Romanelli told me about his earlier beliefs and said, “I was raised in a Catholic family, but had no interest. I felt there was no evidence of God. I had no one to inspire me or educate me of the simplicity of believing, and understanding that evidence of God was not always apparent, but was often subtle.”   He went on to say now: “God has completely changed my life. I am more at peace with myself and others. I am more confident and self assured, knowing, not just believing, but knowing, that He is there for me.”   He mentioned that my blog had played a part in his conversion. At that, my heart soared with joy and I cried –sobbed, really. If I made a list of the five happiest moments of my life, receiving that note would rank high among them.   Why am I sharing this with you? For two reasons: Because oftentimes we don’t know the part we play in someone else’s life and because God can work in your life even if you think he can’t for whatever reason.   You may think that your actions have no effect on someone—but they do. Did you help a coworker with a project? You may be the reason he doesn’t quit. Are you a sponsor for a recovering addict? You may be the reason she doesn’t give up hope. Did you leave a nice comment on someone’s Facebook page? Your kindness could be the thing that stops others from rude remarks.   As we walk along this journey of life and faith, let’s try to remember that when others join us on our path, they are there for a reason—to teach us, to inspire us, to challenge us. St. Paul tells us in Ephesians 5:1-2, “Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love.”