Good morning, Bishop!

I couldn’t sleep, so I decided to access your blog and came across a blog post that caught my attention and made me think.

The last couple of weeks have been different, to say the least. It’s difficult to put into words the meaning of living in newness of life. I had an unusual childhood and a troubled adolescence, marked by significant losses, which were gradual and sequential. All amid a false appearance of luxury that my family tried to keep with what remained after each loss. Over time, the bubble burst, the luxury finished and my world collapsed.

I was almost completely lost among the offers of momentary pleasure that were presented to me. A bitter illusion. The world turns, life goes on, while those who enjoy the pleasure die and stop monitoring their efforts to live. They give up on themselves, in order to satisfy themselves.

Anyway, after such a long time of turmoil, I saw the light, I found the way and discovered life. But the battles never ceased… Quite the contrary. Since I came to Church and began living in righteousness, I have not had a single moment of comfort. After all, fighting against all the ghosts of my past, bearing the consequences of my wrong decisions and facing everything head on requires strength, courage and, above all, faith.

It took months and months of battle against my pride; there were internal and external battles. I was willing to humble myself, I was willing to get back up…

Until a conscious moment of surrender, when I received from God the greatest of all glories a man can receive: the Holy Spirit. Since then, nothing has been the same.

Each day has a different brightness.

Its as if now it’s possible to distinguish the nuances from all the colors. Every detail, every gesture, every look, every single movement can reveal all the beauty of existence, and show the magnitude of God’s Creation. However, the battles continue. Just like the power of choice.

We don’t always make the right choice, but we always learn from our paths. And we are molded, perfected by the hand of God, who dwells within us.

Now, I must be careful not to lose focus, not to look around, relax and allow the light that took so long to have, become dim. Listening to the voice of God and having the vision of His plans will always depend on the daily sacrifice of fighting against myself, taking up the cross and following Him.

Peter Faccioli