Italy is clearly a place that is booming with religion. Churches around every street corner kind of give it away. So much of Rome is filled with historical pieces that relate some way to the faith. Statues have been built and replicas have been made and are continuously being exposed to the people. Although some may consider this overbearing and out-of-date, I personally am forced to revisit my faith each time I encounter a part of this history.
From walking the streets of Rome, I am able to better understand the Catholic faith through the history. I mean, we just visited the Catacombs! What more can a girl ask for? Putting myself in the shoes of the early Christians was an eye opener for me. I was able to actually see the graves, walk the paths they once walked, and breathe the unhealthy air they considered holy. I was living my faith through history….literally.
It doesn’t take much to get me thinking. When we walk through the many churches and see how intricate and detailed each inch of the building is, I wonder how strong these people’s faiths were. To create something so beautiful and great, their love for God had to be outstanding. I wonder what I have done to show God how much I appreciate him. Have I become too consumed in the modern world that I leave little room to give my time to God? These questions are attributed to the history and wonder of Rome. In “The Smiles of Rome” in the Letter of Paul to the Church in Rome, there was a line that caught my attention and it read, “Do not model yourselves on the behavior of the world around you, but let your behavior change, modeled by your new mind.” My hope is that through this journey into my faith’s history, I will be able to change the way I think and in turn, change my behavior for the better.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Dayna, well done, insightful, good use of your experiences, and excellent choice of material from the readings. May we all model our behaviors on the example set by the early Christians.
ReplyDeleteGreat job Danya! I am glad that Rome has made you start thinking about these things, because it has made me partake in some introspection as well. Always enjoy reading your blogs! Your loyal fan, Clint.
ReplyDeleteDayna, once again, outstanding. I agree, seeing all these churches and monuments make me introspective as well. Loved the quote from Paul as well.
ReplyDeleteYour loyal fan as well,
Eric.
That was great Dayna, as always! I really like how you incorporated the faith of the early Christians and compared it to your own. I never really thought of it that way. Keep it up!
ReplyDeleteDayna, you always seem to take a great view on these things because I too have been looking at my faith and questioning how strong it is compared to these early Romans. Great work!
ReplyDelete