Collateral Damage

One of the casualties of my decision to enter into religious life has been the loss of a few very dear friends. I know, you say "if they were so dear, they'd still be your friends", and you may be right, but it still saddens me. You see, I feel that the end began way back with my decision to return to the Catholic faith. It was then that things between us began to become awkward. They couldn't understand my new interests: going to mass every Sunday, joining in church activities, and becoming more vocal about my faith. Why not just sleep in on Sundays? They hoped it was just a phase, something I'd get over with sooner or later. Only I didn't.

Going to church isn't cool in many peoples eyes, and being Catholic requires one (and here's a common misconception) to adopt unpleasant and politically incorrect views on hot button issues such as abortion, homosexuality and promiscuity. I fell from grace when I could no longer be counted on to be silent about these things. Not that I was spouting hate speech or fire and brimstone at all, but the very thought that I could I think secretly terrified them. It seems that stereotypes are like potholes, hard to climb out of. Most people are quite comfortable to wallow in them. It has only gotten worse in this regard since I've entered, and began dealing with the fallacies of what being a religious really is. 

When I turned my direction towards Christ, I was making the decision that I would place Him before all things. It is not a decision that I expected everyone to understand. It's just that I thought a few might try.

This choice I've made is not easy to explain, for how do you explain to people so invested in the world and its delusions that you're willing to leave everything behind; all the things, the career, all of it; for the opportunity to belong completely to God? It's as if I'm speaking in another language. Which of course I am. I am speaking in the language of faith. Unfortunately, some of my friends no longer speak it.