Young adults
Q:
I stopped going to church after graduating from college a couple years
ago, and have been thinking of returning but not knowing where to
start. It seems churches are mostly for older people, though. Not many
young adults, unfortunately. Any suggestions to give me a jump start?
-J.B.
A:
If you need suggestions for getting a jump start, you should talk to
the "car talk" guys on NPR. The only thing I know about cars is that
when I'm 50 years old and bald - I'm supposed to buy a convertible.
But to be honest, your question is really common. So you'd think I'd
have had a great joke to open with. (But clearly I didn't.)
So other than the obvious suggestion - the best way to return to church
is by returning to church - I'll try to put it another way:
Maybe you're thinking of returning because something is missing in your
life. You've got a need that isn't being fulfilled anywhere else.
You've got a good career, family, friends, etc...in other words, you're
the except opposite of me...
But you're still not at peace.
That's because there's a place in your heart that only God can fill.
Thus, our hearts will be restless until we we rest in Him.
So give church a try! What have you go to lose? And obviously there's
plenty to gain. Like eternal life, among other things.
I'm not sure where you live, but if it's a city with a reasonable
population I can almost guarantee there's a parish or two out there
that has a "young adult" Mass. Or at least a Mass more heavily attended
by people your age.
Oh, and welcome back.
