Live For Others

I once worked at a Catholic Summer.  And up until then I thought I had it right.  I thought myself better than others.  I thought I was a good Catholic, I went to Mass every Sunday, sometimes during the week.  Went to Confession when I needed to, but still I was messing up.  I was still hurting my mom, dad, brothers and sisters.  And why was I doing this?  Because I was living for myself. The reason I went to the camp was for myself.  I wanted to get away from my family, I thought what I needed was freedom... and in a way I did.

I soon realized that this camp’s focus was on serving others.  The celibate men's and women’s community’s worked, lived, and prayed for others.  Their prayer life was one of the most powerful experiences I have witnessed.  I thought that praying two hours was hard, and then mass on top of it, I was wondering how anything could get done when I was praying all the (seemingly) time.  But as soon as I got back, I realized how much that prayer life meant to me.  But the thing that affected me most was a short jacked guy from Jersey, who veins popped out on his neck when he talked.  This man’s name was Justin Fatica, and he was the one to challenge me to live my life for others.  Justin led a Ministry known Hard As Nails.  Everyday when Justin went to speak to the youth of America he tells them that they have messed up.  He shouts at you as you sit in your seat.  “I know you messed up! I know you hurt others!  You keep hurting your parents, your brothers, and your sisters! And why do you do it!? Because you are living for yourself!  You only care about yourself!”  His words stung me like a slap across the face.  I felt insulted, wondering who was this guy to tell me I had messed up?  But I pushed my ego aside, I opened my ears and I listened.  I saw myself for the true person I was.  A spoiled brat, who only cared about pleasing himself.  I realized I was for myself, not for others, and certainly not for God.