Hope as the Key to Secular Hearts
Living hopefully as a means of witness to our secular friends and family.
As Catholics, most of us have experienced longing for a loved one to become more connected with the Faith. It could be a son or a daughter, a friend, parents, or even your partner. It isn’t a unique experience, because the truth is: we live in an evermore secular world. Yet being members of the Church, we are called to go out into the world and evangelize—spread the good news. And as we’ve all surely felt, it would be great if we could start with those closest to us. However, the reality is that this is far more difficult than we initially believe. Some people have hardened hearts from a bad experience with the Church or a member of the Church; some, on the other hand, are just simply uninterested in the deeper mysteries and are content with their lives as they are. There are as many different reasons for secular life as there are secular people, and, of course, their lack of connection to the Faith is not something that makes them bad or evil in any way. But is it possible to find a reliable route to get them more interested in God’s love? Hint: it’s not the same as trying to get them to be excited about your own hobby or favourite football team.
To look for a clue, let’s approach the problem from the other side of things. We might ask, for secular people that have in fact turned to the Faith, what was the main driver of that change? Is there a common thread to be found? I was talking about this very question with my parish priest a couple of months ago. Being in an occupation that would naturally give the most insight into this answer, his response was unsurprisingly quick and straightforward (perhaps his time in the navy sharpened this insight as well). What he said was that for most secular adults, it often takes a close encounter with mortality to be awakened to the spiritual call. It could be a near pass with danger themselves, but it could also be the experience of a friend or loved one. However that “encounter” takes shape, it makes them realize that this life is not at all about the trials of the ordinary and everyday kind. They realize that this life does, eventually, reach its end one way or the other, but indeed because of this, it’s critical to learn why we are here. They are soon quite unsatisfied at the prospect of their purpose being tied and ultimately limited to whether they got to work on time, if their social media post got enough attention, or if their football team won. No. Suddenly they realize that, if these mundane routines of waking up, going through the motions, going to sleep, and repeating—week after week, month after month, and year after year—is all there is to life, then there really is no point in it, after all. We call this an existential crisis: a period of uncertainty about the meaning of life, including deep reflection on personal identity and the human condition. But that’s the thing. Inside of us, religious and secular alike, we know that that this “lack of meaning” is far from the truth. Very far indeed. It’s written on our hearts that there is a greater purpose, and it is wired inside of us in a way that is quite intangible. After having experienced that close encounter with mortality, we suddenly wonder about ourselves: our lives, who we claim to be, and what is to come when we too reach our end. The only problem is that this crisis is a crisis for a reason, as any answer here on earth seems far out of reach. In many ways, things can appear hopeless.
So, there we have it—one of the most common drivers of a secular individual to heed the call of faith is a close encounter with mortality, but beyond that, a hope for an answer or for a reason we are even here at all. Hope is what they seek, and, in God, their hope is found. Hope is meaning. Hope is a future. Hope is the impossible that can be achieved. As one of the key virtues of the Faith, hope is what endures.
To return to the start of this article, perhaps we can lever this insight to breathe light into the lives of the ones we love. It is important to note, however, that hope is very much a two-sided coin. Hope is collective and individual: a shared experience but also a singular and personal relationship with Jesus. As such, we should tease these two apart. As for the shared experience, most of you have probably heard the saying, “live out your faith”. Well, this is undoubtedly the best way to show to the ones you love how hope lives in conjunction with faith. I hate to break it to you, but telling others how to live is not always the most convincing. Just like teenagers, there’s something about us that almost wants to rebel (or at the very least shut off our ears) when someone is telling us what to do. That being said, by simply living out our faith and therein rejoicing, thriving, and looking bright-eyed toward the future from our hope inside of us, we can be models of the goodness that the Faith bestows. The light of the Holy Spirit will glow from within you, and people will see these things: in the way you walk, in the way you talk, in the way you live. Akin to this is to relate your personal experience. Someone might be curious about your life of faith, and they may ask you questions about it. Rather than answer by telling them what they should do, tell them about how faith has benefited you and about how and why it gives you hope. By relating that, they may find they want this hope too.
The goal should be for the individual to share an experience with Jesus themselves (hence the other side of the coin, i.e. the individual and personal aspect of hope). Relate to them about the peace and hope that resides in a quiet church, and recommend giving it a try, if they’re curious. In that quiet church, our Lord Jesus Christ awaits them, patiently, and whether they realize they’re praying or not, their hearts and minds will find Him there. Thus, the goal is met: an experience with Jesus himself, and the rest is simply a domino effect.
We’re all on this journey of hope. No matter where you are, consider how the hope that dwells within you can be a beacon of light to others, so that they might start their journey as well. And the next time you find yourself wishing a friend or loved one was a little more connected to the Faith, just remember: hope is the key to secular hearts, and there are plenty of copies to spare.
This article is dedicated to my grandfather: a man of remarkable resilience, impeccable courage, and profound commitment to faith that inspired the hope that lives on in me. I love you, Papa. Eternal rest grant upon him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May his soul and all the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
By Jack Heitman