Some years ago my relationship with God was limited to the time I spent at Church on Sunday. It was because of my parents that I went to Mass. When I was old enough to go to Mass on my own, whether riding my bike or driving to the Church, it was because I was expected to do that. And even then I was the one who arrived late and exited early, usually after Communion.
Church wasn't a place where I wanted to be, so I didn't want to spend any more time there than I had to. I didn't like being there, and many other places seemed more appealing.
It was only when I found my own place in our Church that my attitude changed. I found a community in which I wanted to be a part. They showed me the love of God in a way that I was open to; the love of acceptance and friendship.
My experiences of God's love in communities has grown through a young adult group, through the Cursillo movement, in youth groups, in children's ministries and more. I began a journey of discovering love, myself and a new perspective of JOY.
Happiness can be found in the priorities we set in our lives. The word JOY can be an acronym for Jesus, Others, Yourself. If I am willing to put Jesus first in my life, and other's concerns before my own, then I might find peace and serenity in my soul. In Matthew 25: 40 Jesus said, "When you did this for the least of my brothers (and sisters) you did it for Me."
A self-centered attitude develops a personality of take-take-take, while one of other-centeredness finds giving more appealing. Satan is always looking for opportunities to invert our JOY, to jumble it into some other combination where Jesus isn't first. But any other order of those letters just doesn't make sense.
If you are at the "awful" stage in your faith journey, be open to God's presence and guidance. Our faith is about relationship, and building it up is on-going, a process. Our continued openness reveals how awe-full this connection with God can be.
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