Fill the void: that has always been the ultimate goal. Whenever you feel out of sorts, you try to do everything to patch up the hole. That lack of wholeness could come from not having the means to achieve your dreams, it could be due to a lack of family or significant other, maybe you’re hiding a secret that continues to pull you down, or possibly it’s from the inability to understand the things around you. No matter the reasoning, it’s never a simple fix. Sometimes, the best way to get back on track is to find the one thing that is able to ground you. I find my center of gravity when I go to church.

I was born and raised Catholic. I was baptized, had my First Reconciliation, and First Communion right on time. I went to church on Sundays and CCD on Wednesdays and tried to understand what exactly it was that my faith was all about. When I started playing sports and getting overly involved in school, my dedication to the Church dwindled. I did not go through Confirmation, the sacrament in which I was to be sealed with the Christian faith and strengthened in my Christian life. I am thankful that my parents allowed me to make my own decision on that matter because I was able to decide for myself what exactly the Church meant to me.

I began my true journey through Catholicism when I went on a series of retreats known as Quest and Kairos. They became my entire life. While on these journeys, I received the gifts of friendship, understanding, compassion, and the true feeling of being complete. I went on six separate retreats, and I think back on them as some of the single most defining moments of my life. Without them, I would never have gotten the strength and support to finally be Confirmed. I wouldn’t have understood what exactly it is that gives my life purpose.

Reset. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a button that could simply remove you from a situation and begin anew? Church does that for me. There’s something magnificent about walking into a place of pure elegance, hearing beautiful hymns, and being surrounded by people all seeking that same completeness. It astounds me how the homily always seems to connect with whatever is currently happening in my life. Today, for instance, I was struggling to find something to write about that held true meaning, something of substance that may actually help someone connect. God provided once again by nearly putting the words in my mouth. When discussing the Holy Feast and explaining hunger and satisfaction, Father Pighini noted,

“The only way to truly fill a void, is to let the Lord become a part of you. It may take time and everything will not be fixed immediately, but eventually He will heal you and make your life plentiful.”

I was once again reminded to let go and get God.

I’m not a perfect Catholic. I make mistakes, I do things that I know are wrong, and I sometimes forget to live my life to the fullest extent. I am always searching for more, and sometimes I am able to find it, but the most I’ve ever gotten from life has been when I was given something incredible to believe in. I am healed, I am loved, and I am whole.

Go out and find what makes you whole. You certainly won’t regret it.