I never really knew what conversion meant until I received the baptism in the Holy Spirit ~ for me that was such a life changing event that I knew something had happened to me. Looking back, I now recognize that conversion has been an on-going process in my life, and will continue until I gain heaven, God willing.
Perhaps my first experience of conversion was when I was only about six years old. My best friend Bethany lived across the street from us, and she was Catholic. We were Baptists, and our family didn’t have any crucifixes on the wall or holy water fonts in the rooms, so when I went into Bethany’s bedroom and saw a holy water font and some sort of religious picture, I don’t remember what it was, I asked her what they were. She must have explained it to me, and then I was left alone in her bedroom. I actually don’t really remember Bethany at all – just this one moment in her bedroom. But I do remember kneeling there in her room by that holy water font and saying some sort of a prayer. I’m sure it was very simple, and from my heart – the heart of a little girl. And that memory has stayed with me ~
We left Milwaukee each summer to spend the season in a cabin on a lake. My older brothers all had friends around the lake, but I was pretty much alone with my mom most of the time. There was a chapel on the lake where they held Sunday services, and on Sunday evening they would have a hymn sing-along, which was a highlight of the week for me. Often there would be a young seminarian staying for the summer, and when I was 17, he took a group of us to a movie in Antigo where they were showing a Billy Graham movie that included an altar call at the end. I clearly remember wanting so badly to go forward and confess my faith in Jesus, but intense shyness kept me glued to my seat. I know I gave my heart to Jesus in a deeper way than ever before on that night, and my diary entries were filled with expressions of love for Him. This would be my strongest conversion memory next to the baptism in the Holy Spirit.
Mary in Medjugorje calls us constantly to conversion, with the admonition that it’s our own personal conversion the Lord wants. As I pray for the conversion of my family members and others, I recognize that my best prayer comes from a heart that is itself in a constant process of conversion, being sanctified by the grace of God. Remembering those times of special calling rekindles my desire to totally belong to Jesus, and sharing those moments with others always re-ignites the fire of faith that He’s given me…
Lord God, thank You for calling us! Thank you for the gift of memory, to recall those moments of grace and to allow Your Spirit to re-ignite the fire of conversion in our hearts. Grant us the courage to share those stories, and the inner disposition to receive Your love and grace through them ~
Spiritual Sun Pennies 