|
Finding My Faith
Well I guess it goes
back to how I met my wife that led me to where I am at in my faith
today. It started back in June of 2000 when I was on the annual
“All Guy” fishing/camping trip at Silver Lake near Mammoth Mountain.
After I had met this lady up in God’s country, I just knew that someone
else had put us in the same spot at the same time. Even though we
had never met before, we knew some of the same people throughout our
lives.
Well to make a long story short we fell in love and we
were married on June 15, 2002 in a service that was witnessed by Deacon
John Charters. During the wedding preparations I had found out
that I had never been baptized and I also found a special connection
with Deacon John. Over the next couple of years I continued going
to Sacred Heart Church with my wife. One day while I was in
church, I started to get this feeling welling up from my heart and it
started to make me weep. But at the time I didn’t know why.
This went on for a few months until I started my journey
of finding my faith. There were quite a few questions that I had
for my friend Deacon John which he answered, but he also let me know of
an RCIA inquiry class which happened to be starting up within a few
weeks. So I went to the inquiry class and had more questions
answered. But every time I was at Mass that feeling was still
there and it seemed to be getting stronger. So when the inquiry
class was almost over Deacon John told us about the RCIA class and about
all that we would learn going through it. I knew that was where I
needed to be.
So when it came time for the RCIA class to start up I was
there. Nervous in a sense and not sure if I had faith. A few
weeks into the class I needed to find a sponsor. So I asked my
friend Deacon John if he would be mine. He accepted my invitation
to be my sponsor, I was deeply honored. That’s when I started to
find out that I did have faith and that feeling that I have inside is my
faith telling me that I am loved and finally home. But it really
didn’t hit me until we went to the Cathedral to be accepted by Cardinal
Mahony.
On our next class meeting we had to tell the rest of the
class about our experience. I couldn’t find the words to tell
them, but when I was getting all choked up with emotion and almost
started to cry, they understood. In the following weeks of our
class I have been more emotional. Then the RCIA class had the
retreat at Saint Elijah Retreat Center with the Carmelite Sisters. When
we arrived it was a gloomy overcast day. But when we went out to
walk the Stations of the Cross in the afternoon the sun began to shine.
And after the First Station’s prayer the sun began to shine brighter and
the clouds were almost gone.
That’s when I felt the sun’s warmth against my body like
Jesus was telling me that He is with me and I really found my faith
within me. This experience has been a life changing one for me
because for years I never really knew Jesus’ love. Now I
understand what I’m about to partake in — my Baptism, Confirmation and
First Communion. And that is the greatest gift Our Lord has given
to me.
I
would like to Sincerely Thank Deacon John and Diane Charters, Angela,
Anne, Irene and all of my new family that have touched my life since
I’ve started this journey of Finding My Faith.
Love and God Bless,
Charles Forrest |
