Kuya Lawrence Quintero looks onward as Conference participants throw airplanes sharing their written conversion stories on August 18, 2013. (Photo: Patrick Ruiz)
We all have an innate desire to belong, to fit in, to feel wanted. As we go through our individual journeys to discover our identities, the internal struggle of acknowledging our self-worth accompanies us. Am I good enough? Am I pretty enough? Am I cool enough? Yes, we have heard many testimonies of those sharing their victories in being able to see themselves through the Father’s eyes, the talks reminding us that we are all beautiful, but that does not transcend our human nature to doubt.
That doubt can lead us to believe in the façade that this world has constructed. To believe that in order to fit in, you have to drink; in order to be “pretty” you need makeup, clothes, the face of a celebrity; in order to be cool you have to throw away your virginity. A brother once told me, the devil’s favourite “colour” is not black, but off-white. These perversions of the truth have the appearance of true satisfaction but, in reality, it’s an unsettling emptiness. The danger of this doubt is that if we succumb to it, it can lead to apathetic feelings towards ourselves, towards our families, towards God.
The best tool to evangelize to a young person, is another young person” (Pope Francis)
Talks and shares can only do so much for an individual. What we hear and take away from them creates a spark in us, but that can only be kindled and inflamed through personal relationships. Kuya Lawrence Quintero, International Coordinator for CFC-Youth and session 4 speaker, highlighted the importance of loving our Households within the community during his session, which was translated in his personal sharing of how his past Households helped shaped him into the man of God that he is today. We should also keep in mind that loving your Household in the community should be a reflection of the way you love your familial Household, as it is training for ourselves to love our future families if we are called to the vocation of marriage!
We do not need to search to belong, when we already belong to the community of CFC-Youth” (Kuya Lawrence Quintero)
There are so many examples of participants from Youth Camps coming out of their weekend so ablaze for the Lord, only for their experience to become a distant memory and their presence and involvement an afterthought. Now I understand that this community is not for everyone but the importance of establishing personal relationships first is one that should be upheld. I myself am guilty of not being the greatest Household Head, if one at all. Serving Campus-based, it can be scary to evangelize to those who may have already formed their beliefs and values. However, I have come to once again realize that it’s about being their friend first before being their Household Head. You don’t even need to be that brother or sister’s Household head to reach out to them.
My conversion did not happen because of a camp, a talk, or a share, but because of a friend; the one friend who didn’t give up on me throughout my years of inactivity in this community and my lukewarm attitude to the faith. Because of her humility, perseverance and willingness to be used by God, I am here today. Because I am loved by the brothers and sisters in my program and in my Household, I am here today.
Brothers and sisters, are YOU willing to live it out? I pray that we may all have the courage to simply, and fully love our Households; to honour and serve the Lord.
Holy Family, pray for us!
To God be the glory.
Jeff Adolfo, CFC-Youth Pacific Region
