What I’ve learned about seeking God’s Grace from a career spent in Catholic Media.
An Unexpected Start: Conversations with an Atheist
Back in 1995 when I was a younger reporter, I was, amid everything else in my life, preparing for marriage with my wonderful fiancé, Mary. My publication, The Long Island Catholic, was coming up on our wedding supplement, which included articles for brides and grooms as well as advertisements for bridal gowns, catering halls, and other services helpful for those heading to the altar.
Since I was on my way there myself, my editors suggested that it might be fun for me to write something light-hearted about the trials and tribulations of planning and preparing for a wedding.
At that point, I was so caught up in the all-consuming task of preparing for the big day––as well as house-hunting with my fiancé and working a fulltime job––that I was incapable of writing anything light-hearted. Still, I wanted to offer something. I thought about how, months earlier, I faced difficulty in deciding to propose marriage to Mary––not out of anything lacking in her but because of my lack of confidence in myself.
Providentially, a number of factors helped me past that reluctance––most notably an atheist friend who advised me that it might be time for me to take a leap of faith. So, I wrote about that, submitted it to the editors, and noted:
“It wasn’t what you asked for. If you don’t want to run it, I understand.”
Thankfully, the editors enjoyed it so much that they ran it, and I got more feedback on that than anything else that I had ever written.
Soon, I began writing occasional guest columns––entries that focused on my own experiences as opposed to the objective reporting and even feature writing that I normally did. So, years later, when I returned to the Youngstown Diocese as editor for the Catholic Exponent, I decided to write a regular column.
How C.S. Lewis Helped Me Find My Voice
My columns encompassed a wide range of topics––faith, marriage, parenthood and our lads, our dog Sammy, work, our family’s encounter with a fox cub, loss, COVID-19, relationships, nature, and snowmen, among others.
People seemed to like it because I was writing about situations that many or even most people deal with in family life, jobs, relationships, and living out their faith. I wrote with no particular expertise or special knowledge––though I may have picked up some helpful smatterings of Catholic wisdom from many years of covering the Church and speaking to experts and ordinary people alike who try to make their faith a priority.
People seemed to like it because I was writing about situations that many or even most people deal with in family life, jobs, relationships, and living out their faith. I wrote with no particular expertise or special knowledge––though I may have picked up some helpful smatterings of Catholic wisdom from many years of covering the Church and speaking to experts and ordinary people alike who try to make their faith a priority.
“It often happens that two schoolboys can solve difficulties in their work for one another better than the master can.”
C.S. Lewis, Reflections on the Psalms
I found wisdom in a comment that C.S. Lewis––probably my favorite writer––included in the introduction to his book, “Reflections on the Psalms.” Lewis explained that he was not writing “a work of instruction,” but sharing his own struggles with coming to understand the Psalms. As a professor and longtime student, Lewis understood that two students can sometimes help each other better with a problem than the teacher, who is further removed from the problem.
So, with my lesser abilities, I sought to follow Lewis’ lead in sharing what I’ve encountered and learned as a fairly ordinary Catholic, husband, father and friend who tries his humble best to live out his vocation as a layman.
Seeking… and Waiting
In addition to my own personal experiences, I’ve had the benefit of gaining insights from others. Over the years, I’ve listened to numerous talks by or interviewed well-known theologians, spiritual writers/retreat masters, other thinkers, family life experts, activists in social justice, peace, respect life––I even got to ask a question of Mother Teresa when she came to Canton back in 1981––as well as everyday Catholics who have personally dealt with family struggles, grief, addiction, illness, physical handicaps, faith amid doubts and other struggles.
I wrote my column until the Exponent closed in 2023. I’ve continued writing articles part-time for the Catholic Echo, but the Echo’s format did not lend itself to the type of column that I had written. Then, just recently, our editor, Katie Wagner, graciously approached me and a few others about writing a column for the Catholic Echo website. Though I may be a bit rusty, I suspect that I still have some thoughts that would make the few minutes it takes to read one of my columns worthwhile.
I’ve resisted tying myself to a single specific focus because the kind of column that I like to write encompasses a wide range of subjects and has the capacity to surprise readers––not to say anything against regular columns which have a specific focus.
If I had to choose a broad theme, it would be “seeking and waiting,” because so much of life involves those two generally opposing but complementary aspects. Scripture at different times counsels us to do both––though the trick is often knowing which to do when.
So, once you read my column and those of my colleagues, I hope that you will be seeking out our columns in the future and waiting with expectation for the next.
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