While in chapel last week, I was praying about the future of this blog when an answer was laid right before me, clear and unmistakable: It has served its purpose.A part of me writes these words with difficulty; another with profound peace. It has been a great blessing to write reflections about life in Christ, praying with Sts. Peter and Paul along the way. It has been quite humbling, too, to look at our little counter and realize that people are actually reading our posts, simple as they may be. But as I spoke with Paul and realized that he, too, had felt similar stirrings while praying about our efforts here, I knew that what I heard in prayer was not to be taken as a passing thought.
This is not to say that the past ten months of writing almost daily have been in vain; quite the opposite, in fact. There has been a great blessing which has accompanied this project, that of learning how to express the "sacramental moments" in little stories or encouragements. For those of you who know Paul and I personally, we thank you for encouraging us, for telling us how much one post or another meant to you. I can assure you, too, that we were indeed blessed as well.
This is to say nothing of the great blessing of being in contact with my close friends. A deep thanks goes out to Andrew for helping us out while Paul was in Honduras, and for keeping me in line all the while. I will always be grateful to him for being a true "Andrew" and introducing me to Christ in a whole new way. Like some Happy Days spin-off, here is Andrew's new blog as he heads to the North American College in Rome for theological studies.
And then there is my dear Jesuit friend. Who would have thought that a friendship which began as altar boys lighting matches in the sacristy would become one of deep brotherhood, a struggle and a gift that I am just now beginning to truly see the depth of. While I would love to return to the days of listening to Pearl Jam in his garage, I see how much Paul points me to Jesus, and am so blessed to have him with me on the Way.
Most of all, I must give praise to Jesus Christ for all he has done for me through this blog. Through talking and praying with Peter, I realize how much I am like him. Clumsy, failing, short-tempered and not the smartest, I'm hardly the perfect pick for priesthood. And yet He calls me out on to the water, to become a rock of faith, to spread the Good News, and to march back into Rome to be captured and crucified. It took me five years of seminary to realize it, but here it is: I don't have to do it alone. Christ is with me, loves me, and will show me the way. There are many times still when I deny Him (far more than three times), and yet John 21:12 and following occurs again and again and again.
I can't do it without Him. None of us can.
Please know of my prayers for all of you. Please pray for me as I continue down the path towards ordination, always remembering Peter's words of tremendous faith: "You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God."
It is good to be here.
Peace.
