by Deacon Dana Nearmyer
Being Catholic is so wonderful. I love the community. I love the deep conversations. I love sharing the journey of life with trusted friends.
I talk about the things that I love — family, friends, restaurants, classic cars and especially my faith in Jesus and his bride, the church. People engage in hearing about the things that we are passionate about.
Part of living a magnetic life is being passionate, not lukewarm, about things, especially faith. Conversely, talking negatively about church people, teachings and leadership is not magnetic.
When we talk to our kids about church, regardless of their age, are we projecting the joy and peace that our faith fosters in our hearts, or are we projecting a broken, powerless institution? Broken and powerless institutions are not magnetic.
I can be very annoying, and so can you. We all have habits and traits that annoy our spouses, kids and co-workers.
What if you listened to those people and prayed about one of those traits a lot. What if you and Jesus, Mary, the saints and angels extinguished that habit and trait? Would people notice? What if you offer the sacrifice of the struggle of that transformation for the soul of a loved one? What if you made no big deal of this endeavor, laying up treasures in heaven, but those close to you experienced a more joy-filled you, a more magnetic person?
They will ask how you did it. They will be drawn to that kind of active, dynamic power that wiped out an annoying behavior and left you a better version of yourself. Jesus wants to powerfully move in your life.
Men, I invite you to join me at Men Under Construction on March 8 at Church of the Ascension in Overland Park. Along with nationally known speakers Keith Nester and Jon Leonetti, we’ll host breakout sessions this year so you can dive deeper into your faith. I am leading a breakout session there: “Walking with One: Living an Attractive Life.” This is a great father-and-son experience. Check it out online at: menunderconstruction.org.
Women and kids, I invite you to explore Camp Tekakwitha youth and family camps. Camp Tekakwitha is place of transformation; it is a place where Jesus is expected to powerfully show up. Camp registration will open on the following dates:
• Jan. 28 at 9 a.m. — High school extreme and all family camps
• Feb. 4 at 9 a.m. — 7th/8th grade middle school camps
• Feb. 11 at 9 a.m. — 5th/6th grade Kateri camps
• In June, for the Women’s Fall Retreat
Everybody should engage in the 2025 Jubilee Year, happening right now. Find the information online at: archkck.org/jubilee.
Pray to be magnetic.
