How Uncomfortable Are You Willing To Get?

So, after my blog last week, I had a few people ask me what they can do to help make a change in our country. I sat for many days thinking and praying on this question. I came up with all things that you would think to say: We need to go to Mass, we need to pray more, we need to be good Christians, etc. While these are all good, they weren’t satisfying me. So, I asked my husband.

I asked, “What suggestions would you give regarding practical things people can do in order to bring about positive change in our culture?”

“Well, I don’t think people are going to really want to hear what I have to say.”

“Well, what is it?”

“People need to ask themselves how uncomfortable they are willing to get to turn the tide. Are they really and truly ready to give up numerous comforts? Are they really ready to sacrifice? I think a lot of people say they are, but we have become slaves to our comfort and I’m not sure we are fully ready to do what is required.”

He continued, “You know, the early Americans were so eager to fight for their freedom over things that don’t seem that big of a deal to us today, but they also didn’t lead, for the most part, lives of comfort. They were willing to deal with pain and loss in order to secure God-given rights.”

My husband is so right. I’m currently reading a book on Paul Revere, you know, the midnight rider from Boston. As I’m reading about the things that England was imposing on them, I keep thinking, “My goodness, these things are so minor to what we put up with nowadays.” The early Americans had a different spirit about them. They did not think that what England was forcing upon them was right or just and they were willing to get out of their comfort zones to battle it head on.

Now, I’m not saying we need to go to war–physical war–with anyone in our country. But, spiritual war is upon us and has been for quite some time. Are we willing, like my husband said, to get uncomfortable to fight for the soul of our country?

It means that we going to have to be brave to speak truth. As Christians, we are told we are anti-science by a bunch of people pushing some of the most anti-science positions in the world, such as fetuses are parasites and boys can be girls. These are serious detachments from biology and anatomy. We will be called haters, bigots, intolerant, and worse. It’s going to make us uncomfortable. We have to be brave and speak truth anyway.

It means we may lose our jobs, friends, or status. That can be scary. The comfort of money and the illusion of our freedoms are dear to us. But, be sure of this, we are losing our freedoms day-by-day because we don’t want to get uncomfortable.

It may mean that it is time to scale back and move to a one income family so that one parent can homeschool. That means that we will have to do without some material items or big houses.

It may mean that we have to say no to sports teams that want to practice during church time.

It means that we have to be willing to have family talks about uncomfortable things such as abortion, socialism, and pornography. It’s time to turn off the tv and start talking as a family. Many children go off to college never having been educated on the truths about abortion or socialism. They get into higher education and are spoon-fed progressive agendas and they receive no counterarguments. Believe me, I know. I was forced to stand my ground in college and, oftentimes, I did it alone.

It may mean that we need to get more involved in politics and start making our voices heard.

It may mean that we need to make it a priority to eat dinner as a family together nearly every night.

It may mean that we set a limit on social media for one hour a day. There are other things we can be doing with our lives and we need the break in order to pray and think without being bombarded.

It may mean that we need to really research something before we post about it and spread erroneous content everywhere.

It may mean that we have to walk away from social media fights realizing that they are often not very productive.

It may mean that we have to stop giving money to places that figuratively slap Christians across the face but then take our money as we hand it to them anyway.

It means we are going to have to pray for our enemies.

It may mean setting the alarm to get up early in order to pray. Yes, you may lose sleep.

It means looking at yourself and working to eradicate the sin you struggle with, whether that be pride, greed, lust, envy, anger, gluttony, or sloth.

Each and every Christian needs to look at their lives and evaluate where they can get uncomfortable.

But, you may ask, “Is there something I can do that’s comfortably safe?”

No, nothing.

We are way past that point. Now is not the time for alarmism or fear. It is a time, though, to get uncomfortable in order to bring about lasting and positive change. We must do it with charity, truth, and goodness.

But, honestly, if you say to yourself, “Well, I would get uncomfortable, but I don’t want to lose this or that; I want to maintain this or that; I’m not ready to give up this or that” then nothing will change in our country. No matter who is in the Oval Office, our country is still sick and will remain that way unless and until we all start making a change. Laws and politicians aren’t going to heal anything–they are not spiritual healers.

If you want to do something, take stock of your life and see where you can get uncomfortable. I know the things I need to do. I had to get honest with myself about the areas of comfort that I am still clinging to in order to not ruffle feathers or feel discomfort.

In writing this blog, I have been constantly reminded of the Apostles. They did not lead lives of comfort. They went without, they suffered greatly, they dealt with mocks and jeers, they battled evil and they did it all without any violence. They lived uncomfortable lives because there was no way to spread Christianity through lives of safety, pleasure, and comfort. They were inspired men and they are our examples.

The Apostles, inspired by the Holy Spirit, went all in and consequently planted the seeds of our faith that has endured for nearly 2000 years. They didn’t, in this earthly life, see the full effects of their labor, however, they followed God’s Will for those that would come after them. We are at that point. We may not fully see the effects of the effort we make to turn the tide, but we need to do it anyway for those that come after us.

So, Catholic Pilgrims, I don’t have a set list of things for you to do, because I don’t know where you are in your faith journey. But, what we can all do is ask ourselves, “How uncomfortable am I willing to get?” If you find yourself hesitant and fearful to answer that question, I would suggest exploring that in prayer. If you are ready to get uncomfortable, then assess where those areas are and get started with it. Pray for courage, pray for fortitude, pray for grace, and then do what needs to be done.