Set Apart

A lot of the time, we just want normality in our lives. We don't want to have to do things that no one else has to do. We just want to "fit in." As Christians, however, we aren't called to normality. We're called to be in the world, but not of the world. We're called to do everything we can for God and for our brothers and sisters, not just the bare minimum. We have greater standards for ourselves because we are set apart, and we ought to act that way.

Sometimes normality is tempting. It seems easier, carefree, and fun, but the reality is that normality has NEVER accomplished ANYTHING. The Apostles didn't convert three-thousand men on Pentecost by trying to be normal. None of the saints became saints by trying to "fit in." If you tried to name one great man who became great by striving to be normal, you could not do it, because no such man has ever existed.

Fact is, normality stops us from doing great things. It puts limits on us and stops us from fulfilling the purpose for which we were created. It keeps us from being who God created us to be for the sake of being who the world wants us to be. When we choose normality, we choose the world's standards over God's standards.

We need to choose God's standards in every aspect of our lives, from the way we dress to the way we act and speak. We really need to try to dress beautifully and modestly. That doesn't just mean having slightly longer skirts or slightly less tight pants than most people have, it means dressing according to the Catholic standard of modesty, which is visibly different from the world's. We need to talk in a way that really glorifies God. If you don't swear, people will notice, and they might ask you why you don't. This gives you a chance to share your faith with them. 

I'm not writing this to tell you to be really weird or act like a freak. I'm writing this to challenge you to be bold. I'm encouraging you to go out of your comfort zone and share your faith or take that next step you need in your faith life. I'm going to borrow a friend's analogy and compare faith to trying to run up an escalator that's going down. If you keep pushing and challenging yourself, you'll make it to the top, but if you stop, you go backwards. 

Nuns being abnormal :)

Also, on a completely unrelated note, my brother wanted me to include something about how he lost his tooth because he kept picking at it in school today. Keep him in your prayers because it's his first communion on Sunday! :)