Victim Turned Advocate

The sad tragedy of today is that man often lives as if God does not exist; he does not direct his life by an awareness of God’s constant presence. Thus man has forgotten the reality in which he is immersed: God, by his power, knowledge and essence, is unceasingly and mysteriously present to each of us, aware of each and every intimate and hidden thought within our hearts. While this type of indescribable closeness between Creator and creature is beyond human understanding, those who have been touched by it are nonetheless certain it is real. -Pope Benedict XVI

As a result of my near-fatal auto accident and my beyond and back experience I have learned to stop resisting Christ’s teachings.   have become a student and I humble myself before our Savior.  The Holy Spirit moved in my life in such a profound way that my hope that God exists has been replaced with knowledge that He is present in every moment of our lives.  I turn to His holy word and read in the Book of John 14: 7-14 God’s promise that if we believe in Him, and ask anything in the name of Jesus Christ, God will grant it.

Prayer is essential.  Prayer is the only reason I lived and have progressed so well in my recovery.  I was a teacher prior to the accident, yet I was unable to recite the alphabet.  My brain stopped talking to my legs so I was wheelchair bound.  Now, I walk, with a cane to help stabilize me, but every day the strength in my legs improve.

For more than 30 years I was a staunch Protestant and just before the accident I spread propaganda that the Pope was the vicar of hell.  Unbelievably, I am a revert to Catholicism.  I follow Asceticism, the practice of self-denial (i.e., control of one’s passions and base impulses) for the sake of the Kingdom. I pray three hours daily, including the Holy Rosary, fast on Wednesdays and Fridays,  request absolution monthly,  and attend mass at least 3 times a week.  I do read the daily readings on the web site, Living With Christ.

Oh, that all of you would pray that the playing field cease to be tilted toward social injustice.  I strongly believe that just as the Holy Spirit made my freedom from guardianship abuse possible, that if we pull together in prayer, all wards will receive human dignity.

~Gertrude Helfta