From Distant to Devoted

I’ve always considered myself Catholic. Growing up, I went to church on Sundays — mostly on holidays or whenever it felt “mandatory.” I believed in God, but I didn’t really know Him. My faith was more of a background presence than something I actively pursued.

That started to change after I went to college.

During my first couple of years, I still believed, but I didn’t really focus on Jesus. He wasn’t at the center of my life. I was distracted, busy, and honestly didn’t know how to build a real relationship with Him.

But then something shifted — quietly, unexpectedly — at the end of my sophomore year.

That summer, I met two friends who radiated something different. It wasn’t just kindness or positivity. It was something deeper. Through their actions, their words, and the way they treated others, I saw Jesus. They didn’t preach or push — they simply lived in a way that made me want to know the source of their peace and joy. They carried a love that felt warm, pure, and real.

Being around them stirred something in me. I wanted to know more. I wanted to feel that kind of connection with God — not just in church, but in my everyday life.

So I started seeking.

I began going to church more regularly, not because I had to, but because I wanted to. I started reading, praying, asking questions, and opening my heart more than I ever had before. And the more I learned about Jesus — His compassion, His grace, His patience with us — the more I wanted to walk with Him.

I’m still learning. I’m still growing. I’m still far from perfect. But now I know what it means to want a real relationship with Jesus — one built on love, not obligation.

And my hope is this: that one day, someone might see His light through me the way I saw it through those two friends. Because that’s how it starts sometimes — not with a lightning bolt moment, but with a quiet spark reflected in someone else’s love.

If you’re reading this and you feel far from Jesus — or maybe even scared to seek Him — I want you to know this: He’s not far. He’s not waiting for you to have it all together. He’s just waiting for you to open the door. That’s the beautiful thing about His love — it’s not based on perfection. It’s based on you, just as you are. Broken, curious, unsure, hopeful — He loves you through it all. So if something is tugging at your heart, lean in. He’s already there, arms open, ready to walk with you. You don’t have to be perfect to begin. You just have to begin.