Fr. James Martin's "12 things I Wish I Knew at 25"

Tomorrow I begin my work at campus ministry at John Carroll University, among twenty-somethings.  It is appropriate that I stumbled across these recent provocative thoughts from Fr. James Martin, a Jesuit who is "chaplain" on the Colbert Report, a bestselling author, and major face for the Jesuits and the Catholic Church.  The only thing I'd add/change is that being a saint is more than "being yourself"--for me being a saint means to become what C.S. Lewis calls the Christian's vocation to be a "little Christ," (which is a grace of being conformed to Christ through Baptism) to let Christ live in you fully--and it certainly helps if you are your best, truest self so that He be ever the more "at home" in you.  In any case, here are Fr. Martin's words of wisdom:


For a lark yesterday, I tweeted 12 things that I wish I had known when I was 25.  Maybe they'll help a 25 year-old person you know.  Or you!

1.) So I'm 50 today, and I'm going to tweet what I wish I knew at 25. First up: Stop worrying so much! It's useless. (I.e. Jesus was right.)

2.) Being a saint means being yourself. Stop trying to be someone else and just be your best self. Saves you heartache.

3.) There's no right way to pray, any more than there's a right way to be a friend. What's best is what works best for you.

4.) Remember 3 things and save yourself lots of unneeded heartache: You're not God. This ain't heaven. Don't act like a jerk.

5.) Your deepest, most heartfelt, desires are God's desires for you. And vice versa. Listen. And follow them.

6.) Within you is the idea of your best self. Act as if you were that person and you will become that person, with God's grace.

7.) Don't worry too much about the worst that can happen. Even if it happens, God is with you, and you can handle it. Really.

8.) You can't force people to approve of you, agree with you, be impressed with you, love you or even like you. Stop trying!

9.) When we compare, we are usually imagining someone else's life falsely. So our real-life loses out. Ie, Compare and despair.

10.) Even when you finally realized the right thing, or the Christian thing, to do, it can still be hard to do. Do it anyway.

11.) Seven things to say frequently: I love you. Thank you. Thank you, God. Forgive me. I'm so happy for you! Why not? Yes.

12.) Final 50 y.o. lesson: Peace and joy come after asking God to free you--from anything that keeps you from being loving and compassionate.