I am back from NCCL (National Conference for Catechetical Leaders)!  One of the many things I did today as part of playing catch up was read the posts from last week.  I had skimmed most of them in between workshops and exhibit time last week, but today I really digested what Chris, Tori, Ryan, Melissa and Josh wrote.  I was moved tremendously by their words and reflection questions.  I want to thank each of them for sharing their lives, their faith, and their wisdom with all of us.  It is an honor to share life with each of you, and your writings reminded me of how unique and cherished our friendships are. 

As I read how these five people shared their faith last week, I realize how thankful I am that these five people have been a part of my faith journey that started so many years ago.  Last week, as I dialogued and prayed with men and women of all ages, I realized how many people and events have been part of my faith journey. 
 It is sometimes hard to remember when my faith journey even started.

Last week, Fr. John Hurley in a workshop asked us the question, “When did you first encounter the Risen Christ?”. His question made me pause.  I had to think about when I began to feel the transforming power of the gospel. (A post for another day!).   His challenge to reflect on that question was rooted in the idea that we need to draw from those first experiences of Jesus as we live, work, and serve others.  We cannot get so caught up in the “head” that we forget what happened to us in the heart when we first encountered Christ.  

We are still in Easter Season.  We are still hearing stories of Jesus’ resurrection and appearances to his disciples.  Those moments of seeing Jesus changed the disciples–their eyes were opened, their hearts burned within.  We have experienced moments like this in our lives–our eyes were opened, our hearts burned within, we experienced the transforming power of God at work in our lives. 

I ask each of us today:
When did we first encounter the Risen Christ?
How did that encounter transform us? 

Becky Eldredge

Becky is an Ignatian-trained spiritual director, retreat facilitator, and writer. She is the author of the Busy Lives and Restless Souls (March 2017, Loyola Press) and The Inner Chapel (April 2020, Loyola Press). She helps others create space to connect faith and everyday life through facilitating retreats and days of reflection, through writing, and through spiritual direction. With nearly twenty years of ministry experience within the Catholic Church, Becky seeks to help others discover God at work in the every day moments of people’s lives by utilizing St. Ignatius’ Spiritual Exercises and the many gifts that our Catholic faith and Ignatian Spirituality provide.