A Journey to Love

"I just seems like there's so much more in the Catholic Church..."

These were my words to my boyfriend of the time when he asked me why I had started going to RCIA classes. I was a life-long confirmed Lutheran Christian, but I had a curiosity on my heart from various interactions with Catholicism growing up. At the time I said those words, they were just an intuition. I had little idea then how true they would turn out to be, or just how vast the Catholic universe would turn out to be.  Even in the years following my conversion and eventual reception into the Church, I still often felt like Harry Potter leaving the muggle world and entering that of the wizards. Time and again, I would stumble upon things Catholics seemed to take for granted, barely able to contain my own awe.

One of the first things that struck me during my conversion, and the inspiration for my words above, was the encompassing nature of the Catholic identity. For those who truly followed the Church teachings, Christianity was not just a part of who you are; it was the core of your identity. Being a Christian was not about adding things like prayer and Bible study into your life. Catholicism showed me that my entire identity springs forward from being a child of God. It was here that I first heard that we are all called to be saints. Saints! All of us! So much more was being asked of me in the Catholic Church, and I had a burning desire to explore it.

This was the lense through which I saw the moral teachings of the Church, which may explain why I fell in love so quickly with it. Fell in love...through the rules? Yes, and I will tell you why. Remember when I talked about my identity as God's child? As I learned the precepts of the Church, it became increasingly clear that the "rules" to follow were a map on the journey to true happiness. I love the moral teachings of the Church because they encompass my whole life. They show me, in every aspect of my life, where there may be pitfalls that might cause my to injure myself internally. And the teachings all fit together so seamlessly, that I can flourish with newfound freedom.

Freedom? How can you be free if you have to follow rules? It's true that without rules, you have more "freedom" in the sense that you have more options available to you. However, I'm talking about a deeper sense of freedom. A sense of freedom in being able to live the life I truly want to live. The moral teachings of the Catholic Church are the GPS of my life. It is much easier to navigate through life's choices when I have my GPS showing me which roads are closed, and leading me away from one-way streets. With the GPS on, I have the freedom of enjoying the journey more, because I have confidence that I am going down the right roads. Without this guidance, I am free to choose any road I wish. But getting to my destination? I may be free to choose the prettiest roads, but without any wisdom to distinguish between their truly value in getting to my destination, I am utterly lost.

Because of my journey through the teachings of the Church, I can say that I sincerely and whole-heartedly believe in the teachings the Church has to offer the world. I can enthusiastically describe how each one (particularly the more politically contentious teachings on human sexuality), have personally helped me flourish. I can also see how each is woven uniquely into its place within the tapestry of teachings on the human person. Sometimes, if we see just a single thread, it holds no appeal for us. Yet, when we stand further back, we are able to appreciate the beauty of the way they all come together. I am going to suggest to you that these threads are the teachings of the Church.
Many faithful Catholics struggle deeply with one or more of them, seeing it in isolation. How wonderful would it be if each Catholic, every other Christian, and eventually our culture, were to see the whole picture, and stand in awe at its beauty?

 If you have this vision, share it! If you are the one struggling, look into these issues for yourself. So many Catholics have found such peace once they really understood the Church's teachings. In the end, our faith is not about rules; it is about a person, a relationship with Jesus Christ. Which road do we take on the journey of building it? I've got a great map you can borrow...