Faith from High School....Imagine that....

I have not been inspired lately to write anything special or meaningful; however, I do feel the need to write. Please excuse me if I get slightly off topic or if I am not making complete sense.

Inspiration is defined as: a sudden brilliant, creative, or timely idea! Just a small inspiration...a nudge perhaps....anything really!

Ahhh....let's talk about something controversial (this was my favorite kind of topic when I was young)....let's talk about abortion. I don't know about you, but I have always felt very strongly about the legalization of abortions (yes, I'm that old). The following is a true story from my "good ole high school years" - the stories I could tell.....maybe next time.

To preface this story you must know: 1) I went to high school in a very small town in Idaho; 2) I was a rebel in every sense of the word; 3) I graduated from high school in 3 1/2 years because I had to get that part of my life over with quickly; and 4) I had some amazing teachers in those 3 1/2 years. One such teacher was Gary Curtis. He taught histories and government. He encouraged us all to think for ourselves, do our research, and stand up for what we believed in. He died very young - it was heartbreaking - but he left a lot behind, including this teenager confident in what she believed in.

One class during high school included participating in a formal debate. Most topics were about current events. One such debate that I as involved in (remember this is in the mid-1970's) was on the legalization of abortion. With the supreme court decision in the historic 1973 Roe vs. Wade case just a few short years before, this was a hot topic - even in a very small logging community. Sides were picked in our class and I, along with a couple other students, found ourselves on the Against side of the abortion debate. Fine by me. I didn't believe in abortion at 16 and I don't believe in it now.

I remember that the debate began with opening statements and then a gentle back and forth banter between the two sides. We had an audience (the rest of the class) but it soon grew quite large when voices were raised and tempers flared a bit. I should have mentioned that this small school was designed with an "open concept" - meaning there were no real walls or doors - just room dividers and open space. So if one classroom got a bit rowdy, the other classes definitely noticed. This day was one of those days.

We argued - giving a few facts here and there but mostly hearing the spouting of the For group and how it was a woman's right to do whatever she wanted with her body - including killing a baby. Well, they didn't call them babies - they called them "it" or "fetus" but never personalized anything by calling "it" a baby. If memory serves me correctly, a friend of mine who had given birth and decided to raise the baby when she was 14 or 15 was also on the Against side of this debate. We were both adamant that all babies were, in fact, small humans and had rights, too. We repeatedly stated that this was morally wrong and that we considered abortion a "legalized" form of murder. We were not popular before or after this debate - not that that mattered much to either of us. I did not have the strong Catholic faith that I have today; or the wisdom and knowledge that I have now have after living several more decades on this earth.

But when I think back on this experience, I believe that I was Catholic since the time I was a young child and believed as a Catholic would through my teenage years and continuing into my twenties. Yes, I was a bit of a wild child; however, I hurt mostly myself and did not intentionally hurt others.

I knew I was missing out on something but it took me about 5 decades to find that missing "thing". I held on tight and here I am....knowing abortion, capital punishment, euthanasia are all wrong - morally, spiritually, and logically. Murder is murder regardless of the age of the person. I think the debate in high school was just preparing me to come into the faith later in life. I recently realized that God has been preparing me to be a Catholic my entire life.

Sometimes Life is Hard.....Perspective is Everything

There are times when I feel that I, yes personally, am being pushed aside in the name of service to the Church. I am human - I feel hurt and upset when my husband's ministries take precedence over mine or me. Don't get me wrong, my husband is an amazing man, husband, father, grandfather, and Deacon - but he is just a man. Neither of us is perfect.

So when I am feeling sorry for myself, I can do one of two things. I can either wallow in self-pity or I can pray for help from God. When Ken was ordained, I received a prayer card in one of the "Deacon's wife" gifts - I use it often:

Lord, 
I said "yes" when my husband was ordained a Deacon. The "yes" meant my support, my love, my sharing him as he serves our brothers and sisters.
Thank you for our marriage and our life together. I ask for your help in my supporting him in his service to others as a Deacon.
I know you love me Lord as your unique creation. You have gifted me in many ways. Help me to know my gifts and to use them wherever you desire - within my family circle, and in this world when I am called to love and serve others as Jesus did.
Amen

This is what I try to do each time I find myself feeling sorry for me. Pray to God because I am nothing without Him.

So if you are the wife of a Deacon (or Deacon candidate), I highly recommend writing this prayer down - it may be the lifesaver that you need one day (or today). God's blessings to all who read this.