Will DeJong Learning My Passion for Christianity There are few things in my life that I could say I am so passionate

about they could not be ignored. My faith is the one thing in my life that I am so passionate about that it cannot be ignored. While my things in life are important to me, such as school and programming, faith is the only thing for me that will carry from this life onto the next. School and programming are important for me as they help further my career. However, at some point I will probably not be programming. Also in a few years school will be over with. It is also plausible for me to take a break from schooling or programming and be fine. While not ideal, taking a year break from school wouldnt be the worst thing to happen, it would just put me a year behind on track to graduate. I could choose to ignore programming. If I wanted I could change my major, choose a different profession and just flat out not code. I, however, feel a responsibility to keep my faith. We are all mortal, and with everyday risks in our lives any day could be our last. Faith is not something to me that could be put down and picked back up without second thought. Knowing that we are mortal, giving up my faith would mean possibly leaving this Earth without it. Which all things considered would be the worst thing to ever happen to me. Growing up religion and faith meant very different things than they do to me now. As a child my parents took me to our local Roman Catholic Church with my sister. I remember it seeming boring to me. I would distract myself

by playing videogames in my head to pass the time. I did not understand the readings and ceremonies in church at any level. I had very limited thoughts on what faith was and how it would ever help you. My general idea of Christianity was two main beliefs. One, I thought you had to believe that there was a God and that he existed. Two, I thought that you would go to Heaven if you did more good deeds than bad, and if not you went to hell. My interpretation of Heaven was being with my family and my pets and being in the clouds. My idea of Hell was being tortured in a burning inferno, a cave with Satan on a thrown in a cave, surrounded by flames. My idea of Hell was influenced by the Hell that was displayed on television, not one taught by the Church. My faith at the time was slight motivation to act slightly better, similar to how I would act as child to get on Santas nice list. I believe I also knew Jesus was the Son of God, but I did not know why that was important or what it meant. Growing up I was also curious about how true what I had been taught was. The idea that Heaven isnt real bothered me very much growing up. I worried what would happen if at any moment I died and wasnt with my family Starting in March I began attending the church nearest to my house, the church I had gone to as a child. Prior to March the last time I had done this willingly was 2008. For many years I identified myself as agnostic or atheist. After learning the corruptions of the Catholic Church from my school I lost my trust in the church. Learning about science in general disproved my faith to me. I thought that because of what science said that the Bible must

have been wrong. I believed I was smarter or better informed because of switching my stance on God; I looked down in my mind at people of faith. There was nothing in my mind that could change my stance either; I thought any new information coming my way would reinforce my thoughts. The years in which I had no faith were the worst years of my life. Without my faith I did not have a moral compass other than my conscience. Because I didnt have any faith in God, I didnt believe in sinning. While believing nothing happened to us after we died I also lost much motivation to do anything and became apathetic. I also became very anxious during this time and lost faith in myself. I didnt know of anything that could cause eternal or permanent satisfaction in my life, and decided to pursue almost nothing. I didnt have dreams of going to college, or graduating high school, or getting a job. I had no ambition for anything in my future, or even improving myself. What finally got me back into the church was very simple. In the back of my mind I knew the right thing was to become a believer again. The action that helped set this forth was the death of my dog that my family had owned for fourteen years. While in scope it was an insignificant death compared to the death of a family member, it made me think about mortality. One second my dog was alive and breathing, and the next he was gone. This made no sense to me. I knew there was more than that when it came to death. This forced me to go to church to find answers. My passion has grown in college. I joined Campus Outreach, a Christian ministry on campus. This allows me to be a part of two faith

services per week. Campus Outreach is also run by people who are mostly of Presbyterian faith. This has given me a different perspective on what it means to be Christian. Campus Outreach has taught me many things about faith that I did not learn through the Catholic Church. On top of this I have attended bible study on top of this. Bible study has helped me interpret the Bible better on my own, which allows me to learn about my faith whenever possible. My favorite verse in the Bible currently is Matthew 6:25 which reads Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? . These verses are very calming to me and are a constant reminder to realize the foolishness of worrying and how unnecessary it is. With services and readings being a part of my daily routine it would be difficult to ignore something that is such a large part of my life. On top of this I pray before my meals each day, during times of reflection, and prior to going to sleep. I believe praying to God often helps me feel closer to him and keep things in perspective. I think praying is one of the most important things for my faith as it helps strengthen my faith and relationship with God as it such a personal activity. I dont believe it could give up praying as it is so important to my daily routine and faith overall.

I do not think I could live my life without my faith in Christianity and Christ. I know how hard it was to live without believing in God, and I do not believe I could ever go to such a dark place again. On top of this many of my thoughts and daily routine depends on my faith. My faith has also affected my personality, and made me try to be a better person. Without God my personality would change for the worse, my whole character would change. My faith is not something I could possibly ignore.