What if?

I consider myself a "convert" even though as a child I was baptized in the Catholic Church. But I was not raised in it. I was raised in a non-believing secular family. I read other's conversion stories and a lot of them are from other Christian denominations. I find them very fascinating because these people already had a deep relationship with Jesus and knew the Bible inside and out and even had some anti-catholic prejudices. I didn't have much to lose when I came into full communion with the Church. I was my biggest hurdle. I had my pride to overcome but that was pretty much it. Don't get me wrong. Pride is a HUGE hurdle. But our protestant brothers and sisters who converted not only had their pride but also risked losing family members, friends, their source of income, (if they were clergy,) and other outside oppositional influences. And yet, they still became Catholic.

I ponder if I had become a non-Catholic Christian, if I'd have done the same. I'm afraid I wouldn't have. There were some occasions when I could have joined another church but there always seemed to be an obstacle. I got the sense that God was putting up the hurdles. Sometimes I even wondered when these hurdles popped up if God just didn't want me. I wasn't worthy enough. But I look back now and see that He did want me. He wanted all of me and had I gone with another tradition I might have become disillusioned and left Christianity altogether. Knowing how weak and faint of heart I was, He put up those hurdles so I'd go straight to the source.

So I really admire those who converted from other Christian traditions. Because they've got moxie. They risked everything and they even lost everything and they still came to Rome. In the early days of Christianity they would have been the happy martyrs singing hymns while being fed to the lions. And they strengthen my faith all the more.