A few weeks ago, I was driving my 16-year-old son to school when I broke the news that January’s Catholic Herald column would be my last. The growth of the Trinity House Community ministry, our weekly e-letter, and a forthcoming book — “Heaven in Your Home Letters & Guide: Inspiration & Tools for Building a Trinity House,” don’t leave enough hours in the day. I’ve been blessed to write this column since 2013, when this son was 5.
He shrugged and mumbled, “So what’s your topic?”
“Thinking about some challenges — but what’ve you got me for me?” I asked.
We were pulling up to the drop-off. He suddenly turned to me. “Do it on gratitude,” he said, his face suddenly flashing a smile as he got out and slammed the door.
From the mouths of — yes, teens. “Love you,” I called out the window as I teared up.
To heed my son’s advice, first I want to thank you, my Herald readers, for all your prayers, ideas and feedback; and my ultimate editor and beloved wife, Ever; our five children; Bishop Michael F. Burbidge, Bishop Paul S. Loverde, my former assistant, Patricia Diewald; David Carlson; and the Herald staff, including Mike Flach, Kevin Schweers, Ann Augherton, and Meghan Bartlett. Over the years, I’ve convened a band of brothers who have generously given me ideas and read and critiqued drafts. You know who you are. Thank you.
And now to the challenges:
1|)Begin with wonder. Yes, the trials of each day are many. But to go upstream and recapture — from the Lord, in daily prayer — a visceral sense of wonder and adoration at his glory, at his gifts, at his creation … and then to “rejoice always.” This. This is how life changes. How conversion begins and deepens.
2 ) Cultivate gratitude. Yes, so much to get angry, anxious and complain about … But to reflect, to remember, to articulate our gratitude daily — beginning in prayer, and overflowing from there — is to step into the abundance God has prepared for us. To paraphrase my son, “Do your life on gratitude.”
3 ) Deepen communion. We are made in the image of our Trinitarian God, a “communion of persons.” God did not hardwire us to be autonomous lone rangers. We need to accept and lean into the way we are designed — our default setting is for communion, with and in God, and then with others.
4 ) Strive for integration and freedom in Christ. Each of us is something of a mystery to ourselves. Even St. Paul admitted, “What I do, I do not understand. For I do not do what I want, but I do what I hate” (Rm 7:15). And so, with Jesus, we must go not only to the margins of our society, but also to our exiles within, approaching what we may view as “problematic” tendencies, thoughts, and emotions patiently, tenderly, and persistently as we invite Jesus to continue to heal us. Our freedom and human formation in Christ rest not in a stoic turning away from our places of abandonment, shame, rejection, and pain, but in going confidently to those places, with Christ.
5 ) Claim victory. So many of us churn away in endless activity, work, approval-seeking, or other addictive drives that look and feel like a never-ending war. Sometimes a chaotic childhood, divorce or other wounds can hardwire us to expect that all of life will be like this. But Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, is victorious over chaos, sin and death. Yes, many battles and skirmishes remain, but the war is over. So, let’s live like it, starting with observing the Third Commandment every Sunday.
6 ) “Let’s pray for the people who don’t know God’s love.” This was a spontaneous petition — quoted in my first column — from my oldest son (then 7 years old) during our family prayer one evening. Evangelizing may sound uncomfortable or awkward. But our response to the Great Commission begins within the bosom of our hearts, families and homes, then spilling over naturally into the rest of our lives.
7 ) “Stay out of your comfort zone.” And once you’re out of it, fight hard to keep from falling back into it. My dad, who passed away in 2018, said this throughout my childhood, and I quoted him in my first column, so I’m giving him the near-final word.
But I save the best until last. With our beloved Blessed Mother Mary, the first evangelist, may our hearts quicken as her fiat becomes ever more our own: “May it be done to me according to your word.” And then, may we heed her always: “Do whatever he (Jesus) tells you.”
To follow the ministry of Soren & Ever Johnson, subscribe to Trinity House Community’s weekly e-letter at trinityhousecommunity.org.
