Faith-Filled Friendship

When I was going into college, I was really scared about the prospect of having a random roommate.  What if I got put with someone who had totally opposite beliefs or someone who was anti-Catholic?  What if I got put with someone who was an angry feminist?  What if I got put with someone who was going to party every night of the week and come back to the dorm room drunk on a regular basis or someone who was going to bring a boyfriend to the room at night?  I had thought of every worse-case-scenario.  But with some help from my older sister and the UWGB  Catholic campus minister and club advisor at the time, I got connected with another Catholic who was looking for a roommate as well.  Early that summer before we started our freshman year, we were able to talk a little bit and signed up to be roommates so that we were not left to the random selection we would have otherwise faced.

During the first week on campus, there was a welcome week for freshmen with tons of events for us to attend- some required and others optional.  There were student leaders on campus who were in charge of helping out and encouraging us to go to as many events as possible.  After lunch one of the days, there was some sort of Sex Education event.  My roommate and I did not really want to attend this event.  However, we were sort of pushed into the room and told to just go in by some of the leaders standing outside the room.  We agreed that we would go but that if it was weird, vulgar,  inappropriate and went against our beliefs, we would leave.  Within the first five minutes, we looked at each other, not even having to say a word, and we got up and left the room filled with several hundred other students.  And in that moment, I knew God had put a true, faith-filled person in my life who was not only going to be a great roommate all four years, but also a great friend who I could walk with in my faith.

As I reflect on my years in college and the time since then, I am filled with gratitude for the faithful, Catholic friends that God has placed in my life.  Regardless of our age, we all need friends who will walk with us in our faith, friends who have the same values as us, and who will hold us accountable.

The journey is not easy.  But, God makes it possible in the form of good friends.  He provides people in our lives to walk with us, because He knows we cannot do it on our own.  We need people who will pray with us and for us.  We need people who will encourage us and lift us up.  We need people who will challenge us and push us along when we get a little lazy or unmotivated in our faith.  We need people who will help us when we think we’re doing good, but when they know we can be doing more to grow spiritually.

Whether it’s a note from a friend letting you know of prayers for you, a suggestion from a friend to read a certain spiritual book, or a text from a friend saying, “See you tomorrow? :)”, asking if you will be at early morning eucharistic adoration, there are countless ways that friends can help us on the journey.

Pray for good, faith-filled, and holy friends.  We truly do become like the people we surround ourselves with.  And if we want to grow deeper in our faith and closer to God, being around people who want the same things will help us.  God sees and hears our desires and will provide if we ask Him.  Over the years, I have prayed for strong Catholic friends in my life and I have seen how God has answered these prayers in the form of placing some great friends in my life.
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If God has put holy and inspiring friends in your life, thank Him.  And if you’re searching for more of these kinds of friends, keep praying.  We all need prayers, we all need encouragement, and we all need people to keep us accountable in our faith.  We are all on a lifelong pilgrimage, a spiritual journey, that can be challenging and difficult at times, but the great thing is, we don’t have to walk alone.