Let Sin Go.

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="275"] Wanna feel this free? Try the sacrament of Reconciliation![/caption]

On Sunday, I hiked up a mountain to mass at the shrine on campus. I sat alone and asked God to keep me focused on what was important and to reveal Himself to me. When it came time for the homily, the priest spent his time talking about the beautiful sacrament of Reconciliation. At one point, he said something along the lines of:

"People might want you to conceal your sin, to hide it. But God wants you to be honest and open, to come to Him with your sin."

At that moment, the following lyrics from Disney's new movie Frozen started repeating themselves in my head:

"Conceal, don't feel, don't let them know. Well, now they know! Let it go! Let it go! Can't hold it back anymore... And I don't care what they're going to say."

For a three letter word, sin sure is intimidating. It can make us lie, cower, and be ashamed. I can only speak for myself, in reality, but I've definitely lied and been ashamed because of sin.

We don't HAVE to be afraid! God has power over sin, and as long as He is on our side, we have power, as well! Don't conceal your sin. Come clean. Be honest. Stop holding on to it. God wants us to let go of the pain, the shame that is caused by sin. He wants to set us free.

Let God set you free. Take a deep breath and step out into the unknown: go to confession.

Besides, the cold never bothered us anyway.

And God said "Go"

1 Samuel 3:10 says “Speak, for your servant is listening.” That was my prayer for all of winter break, I prayed that God reveal His plan for me, because I was ready.

And like a slingshot, God pulled me back a bit, and then shot me out into the world. 

God was all: 

And I was like:

 

 

But for real. I feel like my full potential is just beginning to be realized. God is calling me to lead others to Him. Ready or not, my life is beginning. 

Eros and Agape in Disney's Frozen

Wonderful!

Sometimes I win.

Today, I got my driver's permit. Due to the fact I'm twenty years old, and sixteen is the legal age in CT to get your driver's permit, some of you may be confused as to why I'm bragging about this.

Here's why: I took the test for the first time when I was sixteen. I psyched myself out and failed. I took it again right before my eighteenth birthday, and failed again. My anxiety told me it was because I was dumb and not ready to drive. Actually, it told me I was worthless and too messed up to be able to drive. Ever. 

Even though I didn't have my permit, I'd practice driving with my parents. The knowledge that my driving wasn't legal caused a lot of anxiety within me. Over Easter break last year, I was backing out of the driveway when I almost drove through my neighbor's fence. I burst into tears, and refused to get behind the wheel again. My anxiety won.

My anxiety has been more controlled lately, so two weeks ago, I made an appointment to retake the test, for the third time. After prayer, and lots and LOTS of studying, I went to the DMV today.

I was terrified as I sat at the computer screen. Some questions, I had NO idea of what the answer could be. I was certain that I was going to fail. But when I clicked 'finish test'... I discovered I had slayed the dragon that was my anxiety.

If you ask me, I screw up all the time. I allow for my mental illnesses to take hold of me, and to run my life. I fail. But today, I won. And that's an accomplishment that I'm proud of.

Saint of the Year: 2014

A friend of mine posted about using this website to find a patron saint for the new year. I thought that it sounded like a lovely devotion, and I never deny help from God's friends upstairs.

The saint I was given was St. Nicholas, which made me excited. I know his feast day and that he punched a heretic (thanks Catholic Memes!), but that's really it, so I'm super excited to get to know him better this year and for his intercession in my life.

What I learned in 2013

Not all friendships last forever. Sometimes, things need to end, so you can be reminded that the only thing that lasts is God.

It's okay if friendships end. You know that silly, cliche quote: "If one door closes, another one opens?" Sometimes, that's really true, and sometimes, you realize that door wasn't so wonderful from the outside as it was from the inside.

Don't settle for "good enough". Always strive for better. Are you happy with your group of friends? Make new ones. Are you happy with that B in your lit class? Aim for that B+. Going to mass on Sundays and doing fine? Add confession, daily prayer, adoration and/or daily mass into the mix.

There are things that you have no control over. That's okay, too. Sometimes, you can physically do nothing, but don't lose hope.

Never underestimate the power of prayer. God loves His children, and He hears their cries and their petitions. He will comfort them.

This year was full of lessons, and I am excited to find out what God has in store for me in 2014!