Growing in Faith

Inspired by Alex Haley’s Roots, I’ve been discovering the faith roots of my family, and it has been a rather fascinating adventure.

My great – great – grandfather was born in 1813 in Kilkenny, Ireland. Not to be forgotten, my father named me Patricia. Great – grandpa was a staunch Orangeman (and therefore, a devoted Protestant) and was the first Master of the Orange Lodge in New Westminster, B.C.

I recall visiting an Orange Lodge as a child. Although few of my memories remain they did set a mark on me. I recall being given a nativity scene and having trouble setting it up, with its life – like doll – sized Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus. I had been taught that they were idols to be worshipped. It took a long time to accept they were just three – dimensional pictures of the nativity scene.

In the early days of my life there were very strong divisions between Catholics and Protestants. In B.C. there was no separation of schools as in Alberta, but the differences were there—seen in things like who you chose as friends.

I married a Protestant man and raised Protestant children. Yet both of them married Catholics—and I have found that my own faith has been enriched. I recall Paul’s admonition to his followers in Philippians 1:18 when they worried about others preaching the gospel. He said, “It does not matter! I am happy about it … so long as Christ is preached in every way possible.”

There are still things that I have problems with in the Catholic faith but I am astounded at how much I can accept.

Perhaps that is because I have been led there by my grandson, Michael, who has such a deep love for the Lord. I hope to have played a small role in this as each summer he would visit with his sister and we began each day with the “Daily Bread.” As Michael grew older our discussions grew deeper and although we did not always agree, he grew in his faith and so did I.

So, it came as no surprise when he shared that he was thinking of going into the priesthood. As a married man with three little children, I knew this would be a challenge. (In the Ukrainian Catholic Church, where Michael was baptised, priests can marry.) But he began the process and this summer he took a big step toward achieving his goal. He became a deacon in his church.

The ceremony itself was very reverent and there was of course the laying on of hands and communion. But what touched me most was the moment when his wife and three children stepped forward and handed his new deacon’s vestments to the bishop.

We are instructed in scripture to clothe ourselves with righteousness and here was the visible sign of that as the bishop pulled the gown over Michael’s shoulders. It was a moving moment and I wept. The little boy I had once bounced on my knee had accepted such a responsibility and I prayed God would be with him every step of the way.

My great – grandfather is no doubt turning over in his grave, but I have been and continue to be on this interesting journey. I once told Michael that God had given him a Protestant grandma for a reason, but I think God has given me a Catholic grandson for a reason, too.

God knows what our needs are and He placed me in a setting that was so different from Michael’s. I think I have, like Paul, realized that the message of love and forgiveness he preached about can be said in so many different ways and that only God knows what will reach into our hearts and open the door to our understanding.

And we need lots of understanding in today’s world. For some of us, our very faith foundations (and our unacknowledged prejudices) are being shaken. We want desperately to do the right thing, but what is right? Where does God want us to draw the line? Where does our tolerance level end and we say, “No, no, this is not right.”

It has taken me a lifetime to remove my old prejudices regarding the Catholic Church. It is love that has done this—love for my grandson. Is it possible to take that non – condemning, all forgiving love and carry it into other divisions in society? Can I give the kiss of Christian charity to someone who I have probably misunderstood? We may have to take tiny steps but surely with God’s help there are some answers. Have I the courage to search my soul and see what God sees? And then am I willing to change my attitudes and learn other points of view with an open mind?

God calls us to different tasks during our lifetimes. I volunteered at our hospital for 35 years. Often I was on my feet all day, feeding patients, burping babies or running errands. Physically, that is no longer possible for me. Instead I host a Bible study group of seniors every Friday. Luckily I can do that sitting down. God has called me to that ministry at this time of my life.

Somewhere along the path of life I have lost some of my courage. Yes, it can be a frightening world and we can be intimidated at times but people are still created in God’s image and we need to be open to that. We can let our little light shine right here… next door, down the street, in the mall. Our Christian faith should be shining at all times and on all people, not just those who sit in our pews on Sunday.

What we may be missing in all this is the Holy Spirit. We need to pray that God’s will be done. This means letting go of a lot of garbage and hanging on tightly to our faith. We need new insights and perhaps we need to look at what is working in other churches. Can we as Presbyterians call out for insight as did our ancestors, pleading for direction in the midst of terrible times?

We may need to make changes and do things in different ways but we must continue to sow the word and we must not give up, even when our seeds fall on rocky ground and the harvest is less than our longed for expectations. We must pray for God’s direction and not live as those without hope. And we will ask the Holy Spirit to touch the hearts of those we are attempting to reach and we will believe with all our hearts that our God is faithful and, in turn, we must be also.