Thank you for sharing your journey and how faith helped you through 💙🙏
Just thought I'd share that I used to write about my faith journey for The Young Catholic Woman before I moved to blogging on Medium - it was a beautiful experience
A touching and thought-provoking piece, Sharon — thank you for sharing it.
I read it just before heading out to a funeral. The departed had been a practising Catholic, and a full mass was held — my first experience of one.
I’m not religious, and I have to admit the ritualistic nature of the service left me cold. But I was moved by how much comfort it clearly brought to everyone else there. That stayed with me.
I came away feeling, oddly, a little envious of those — like you — who hold a strong faith.
Your story, and that funeral, have stirred something in me. I feel the need to look more closely at what I believe, and why. I’ll write about it soon.
I know I’ll never follow a religion, and I don’t believe in God or gods — but I have deep respect for anyone whose faith brings them comfort, meaning, or peace. That includes all religions, not just Christianity. My tolerance extends to every sincere belief, so long as it’s not imposed on others. I don’t believe there’s any one right religion — just different paths that speak to different people. The world would be a far better place if more of us could accept that.
First, condolences. Funerals are often difficult, and I'm praying peace for you and the family of this person who's now gone. I think RIP is quite fitting.
Second, I'm humbled by your response — that my story evoked something within you to "look more closely at that I believe, and why." That's where we all start, even people like me who grew up intimately involved in a Christian family and community (as I've written about in My Spiritual Journey, parts 1-4, here).
I once played the organ for a marriage ceremony at a Catholic church, but I've never attended a full Catholic mass. I'm sure the liturgy is quite different from what I'm accustomed to in the Protestant stream, even as varied as they can be.
I look forward to reading what you share about your beliefs and spiritual journey, even if you arrive at a far different place than I. It is, after all, a journey. I'm still on one, and where I am now looks somewhat different than where I began. 67 years of questioning, stumbling, and learning will sometimes take you on paths you never knew existed, let alone walk on.
I'm so thankful for the happy ending, friend! But what else would I expect, given the title? I'm so thankful that during last year's wide-awake nightmare, the Holy Spirit, would come and whisper Scripture to me when I didn't have the faith to speak them on my own. And thanks for the song! Now I have one more thing to meditate on.
Hurrah for the Holy Spirit’s help always! Glad we’re both past those nightmares. Other than not being able to “hear angels all around me,” the song and lyrics are spot on! Love the song and listen to it often. Loved hearing from you, too. Thanks. 😊
That's crazy about the hydroxizine. That's what my husband uses to sleep. I had an incident last year that gripped me in panic. I did what you did and found scripture to repeat over myself until the fear subsided. What's that song? "When the devil comes try to get me, gonna praise the Lord!"
Powerful testimony
Thank you for sharing your journey and how faith helped you through 💙🙏
Just thought I'd share that I used to write about my faith journey for The Young Catholic Woman before I moved to blogging on Medium - it was a beautiful experience
Thank you, Yana. Feel free to share a link to one of your pieces if it’s available online. I would like to read it.
Thanks. Here's one: https://www.theyoungcatholicwoman.com/archivescollection/overcoming-insecurities-as-a-single-woman-1
A touching and thought-provoking piece, Sharon — thank you for sharing it.
I read it just before heading out to a funeral. The departed had been a practising Catholic, and a full mass was held — my first experience of one.
I’m not religious, and I have to admit the ritualistic nature of the service left me cold. But I was moved by how much comfort it clearly brought to everyone else there. That stayed with me.
I came away feeling, oddly, a little envious of those — like you — who hold a strong faith.
Your story, and that funeral, have stirred something in me. I feel the need to look more closely at what I believe, and why. I’ll write about it soon.
I know I’ll never follow a religion, and I don’t believe in God or gods — but I have deep respect for anyone whose faith brings them comfort, meaning, or peace. That includes all religions, not just Christianity. My tolerance extends to every sincere belief, so long as it’s not imposed on others. I don’t believe there’s any one right religion — just different paths that speak to different people. The world would be a far better place if more of us could accept that.
First, condolences. Funerals are often difficult, and I'm praying peace for you and the family of this person who's now gone. I think RIP is quite fitting.
Second, I'm humbled by your response — that my story evoked something within you to "look more closely at that I believe, and why." That's where we all start, even people like me who grew up intimately involved in a Christian family and community (as I've written about in My Spiritual Journey, parts 1-4, here).
I once played the organ for a marriage ceremony at a Catholic church, but I've never attended a full Catholic mass. I'm sure the liturgy is quite different from what I'm accustomed to in the Protestant stream, even as varied as they can be.
I look forward to reading what you share about your beliefs and spiritual journey, even if you arrive at a far different place than I. It is, after all, a journey. I'm still on one, and where I am now looks somewhat different than where I began. 67 years of questioning, stumbling, and learning will sometimes take you on paths you never knew existed, let alone walk on.
I'm so thankful for the happy ending, friend! But what else would I expect, given the title? I'm so thankful that during last year's wide-awake nightmare, the Holy Spirit, would come and whisper Scripture to me when I didn't have the faith to speak them on my own. And thanks for the song! Now I have one more thing to meditate on.
Hurrah for the Holy Spirit’s help always! Glad we’re both past those nightmares. Other than not being able to “hear angels all around me,” the song and lyrics are spot on! Love the song and listen to it often. Loved hearing from you, too. Thanks. 😊
That's crazy about the hydroxizine. That's what my husband uses to sleep. I had an incident last year that gripped me in panic. I did what you did and found scripture to repeat over myself until the fear subsided. What's that song? "When the devil comes try to get me, gonna praise the Lord!"
I know. Crazy, and such a disappointment. Glad it’s helped Mike. Don’t know the song but you’re not the first person who’s mentioned it. 😊
https://youtu.be/7DXGozXslIg?si=HT5YxYXCXYttvkuM
Loved it! I’d never seen that one. Thanks for sharing! ❤️