Despite being raised Catholic, I had a scant interest in God as an undergraduate at Notre Dame. It wasn’t until 15 more years of rebellion after my graduation that I truly accepted the eternal life that Jesus offers all of us.
Our three children’s time at Notre Dame provided me with many opportunities to walk the campus when it was not supercharged by the energy of a football weekend. Often, as I walked in solitude, peace, and quiet along the main quad on my way to the Grotto, I reflected on what a wonderful place Notre Dame is to explore spirituality—to develop a greater understanding of what it means to live as a subject of the kingdom of Heaven. My initial reaction was to deeply lament my missed opportunity while a Notre Dame student.
But God has enabled me not to be paralyzed by my regret. Instead, God has worked in me to develop a child-like hope that despite my sinful and rebellious past, God wants to use me the same way he used others to help me better recognize, understand, and embrace God. Their deeds, however small, done in obedience to God, led me to glorify and submit to God.
The thought that the God of all Creation chose wretched sinners like us to carry out God’s eternal plan is beyond my comprehension. But I have been blessed by too many people who have allowed God’s light to shine through them into the dark times of my own life to permit any other conclusion. As incredulous as the invitation may seem to human understanding, it is my prayer that each of us would embrace to an ever-increasing depth God’s call to be his light-bearers set high upon lampstands as standard bearers of love in this often dark world.