Paul George

I was baptized Catholic as a kid, but my family didn’t practice the faith consistently. Once my parents divorced, when I was young, the faith and Sacraments were less frequent. We began to attend protestant services or didn’t attend church at all. However, the seeds of faith were planted in me. Since that time, through various circumstances, my whole family has in some way made their way back to the faith.

The Grace from my baptism remained in my soul. In 8th grade I received the Sacrament of Confirmation with a group of friends who I knew from school. I actually got kicked out of the class for causing so much trouble. Luckily, I was allowed back in

I had no idea what I was doing with confirmation, but knew for some reason it was good. There too, without knowing it, God’s Grace was given to me, freely. I know that the Grace from these Sacraments (baptism and confirmation) began to swell in my soul, eventually leading me to what I desired most— Christ!

My initial conversion was at a Catholic conference with a group of high school friends who invited me. I went only to getaway on a trip and have fun. God had a different plan. I met Jesus in prayer, Mass and in the community present. The Holy Spirit convicted me of my sins and my desire to be set free. I went to confession for the first time since 2nd grade. I knew my life needed to change and that God was real and loved me. This was an initial conversion moment for me.

Yet, I can honestly say I’ve had multiple conversion moments in my life and I do believe that conversion is a process of rethinking our lives through the lenses of God and who He created us to be. My initial conversion was my first encounter with Christ, His mercy and His love for me. I began to change, turn away from my old life and began to follow Christ. Yet, I was still carrying baggage. I needed to mature, grow emotionally, spiritually and mentally. I needed to integrate all areas of my life with Christ. But this takes time. My heart needed healing from old wounds. My mind needed rewiring from old habits. My soul needed to detox from sinful patterns and my body needed to reshape into God’s vessel. All this while re-entering the Catholic Church...finding peace and healing in The Sacraments of Confession and The Eucharist.

I know that Jesus came to save sinners and that the Church is the place of the sick. I entered the infirmary and God accepted me in and began to work on me to heal and get better. God’s Grace is sufficient, abundant. The Holy Spirit is powerful, alive.

Thus, I continue to not only follow Jesus, live as his disciple; but I’m committed to ongoing conversion and growth in my life.