Formation Toolbox: Are You For Real?
By Benjamin O’Loughlin
Husband. Father. Honest. Believer. Catholic. Throughout our lives we accumulate names and titles that define what we’re about. However, important as they are, these traits can be extremely fragile. They are only as strong as you make them.
A great way to test their strength is to take one sector of our lives and ask ourselves “Am I for real?”
Politics is only a part of my life, and not even the most important part. However, like so many others, it can be a touchstone for my Catholic faith.
I am Catholic. Do I think Catholic? Do I act Catholic? Do I talk Catholic? Do I vote Catholic—according to the values and faith that I know are true, and good? Am I capable of explaining how and why my choices reflect and strengthen my faith in God and love for others?
If not, I’m not truly through-and-through Catholic, just like an off-and-on husband or part-time father isn’t the real deal. I need to get myself back to the forge, and temper my beliefs until they are strong enough to guide my thoughts, words and deeds. Only then I will be for real.
