Lent

Conversion boils down to a journey of the heart

By Ann Froelich

	A Lenten series on Reconciliation

As you hear the word "conversion," what images, meanings, experiences come to mind?

This word most likely has a different meaning for each person.

When I looked up definitions, I found the following:

One definition in Webster's dictionary is "a turning or change from one state to another." On the Internet two definitions (of many listed) were: "1) a spiritual enlightenment causing a person to lead a new life, 2) an event that results in transformation."

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These definitions, broad and general, indicate change within a person in some way. What then might conversion mean on a more personal level, say, to people in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults or RCIA?

I asked the people in our RCIA group at St. Matthew Parish to talk about what "conversion" means to them during their journey of faith this year. Some responses were:

• "Strengthening and deeper meaning of my faith" (Anna).

• "Things have changed inside me - I have come to personal acceptance on faith" (Jen).

• "I always had faith. Now I am professing it and living it in action as part of a community" (Chris, a catechumen).

• "Faith is discovery with end" (Mark).

• "Giving a name to something that's always been a part of me" (Melissa).

• "Accepting my faith in a personal way" (Katie).

• "A moment of enlightenment followed by a lifetime of growth" (Laura).

Each of the candidates, catechumen, and sponsors noted that this time of conversion has been a process of awakening that started from a longing within their hearts. They listened to their hearts and in the listening have come to hear God's voice deep inside.

In the story The Little Prince, by Antoine de Saint Exupery, the fox tells the prince a secret of what is so very important about all of life and life's experiences: "It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye."

The fox goes on to add: "It is the time you have wasted for your rose that makes your rose so important."

Might we apply these truths to conversion of the heart, conversion of our own hearts? During their faith journey, our RCIA folks have come to see with their hearts that what is essential is letting Jesus into their minds and hearts and souls. What is essential is prayer and openness to God.

Might this be the truth we all seek, especially during this Lenten season?

The Little Prince spent much time taming first the fox and then his rose. He tended, watered, sheltered the rose, listened to its pleas and cries. During Lent, how much time are we willing to waste on tending, watering, listening to God as God tries to tame us and come into our hearts?

This is not time wasted; instead it just could be time for changing and growing. This might be the time of conversion of heart and mind and soul - leading to inner transformation.

The refrain from the song "Deep Within," by David Haas, is based on Jeremiah 31:33. If we pray these words often, perhaps we might hear God speaking these words to our hearts this Lenten season:

"Deep within I will plant my law,

not on stone, but in your heart.

Follow me, I will bring you back,

you will be my own and I will be your God."

"Goodbye," said the fox. "And now here is my secret, a very simple secret: It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye."

(Froelich is the pastoral associate at St. Matthew Parish, Green Bay, where she directs the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults.)