in the beginning...

It began in 2016. 

In the fall. 

I participated in a Called & Gifted workshop to discern my charism. The Holy Spirit gives each of us charisms - special gifts -  to help build the kingdom of God here on earth. The inventory identified writing as a possible charism. This didn’t surprise me. I’ve always enjoyed writing and in fact have a bachelor's degree in journalism. Charisms, however, are different from talents so the task is to figure out which it is. This is done through the three Fs - feelings, fruitfulness, and feedback. 

Feelings:
When working in a charism one feels joy and satisfaction, as if this is where you belong. It can feel like prayer or an expression of your relationship with God. I’ve often used a prayer journal and often used writing as a way of sorting out my feelings and experiences. It’s not uncommon for me to spend a decent amount of time getting lost in writing. I also often feel like God is guiding me or talking to me as I write. Sometimes I start to write, not sure of where it’s going or what I’m meant to say only to have it come together in an unexpected way that I could not have imagined. 

It’s like diving into a sea of words and emerging an hour later surprised. 

Feelings: check.

Fruitfulness:
This involves being effective at the task with little struggle. I’ve often taken my ease of writing for granted. I felt that if I could do it, everyone could. As I explored this more, I came to realize that’s not true. There are lots of people for whom writing is a chore. A chore! How could this be? For me it’s a joy and when I’m not in a season of writing a lot I miss it. 

So fruitfulness: check.

Feedback:
Gulp. Feedback meant I had to let other people read what I wrote and that was a scary level of vulnerability I wasn’t sure I was ready for. Sometimes the Lord calls us to challenges. So, I accepted.  I enlisted my daughter for help in setting up a free Wordpress blog site and named it Mariamore (“Maria” because I love our Blessed Mother and “amore” because it is Italian for “love.” Mary Love = Mariamore)

I slowly added pieces of writing and invited people to read them. I then girded myself - writing is supremely personal however I thought there was a charism there and I desired the confirmation of feedback so I had to put my babies on the interweb.  That confirmation came.

Over the past five years God has offered me some beautiful opportunities to write for him and I’ve received some kind, kind words from my readers. 

Feedback: check.

I am humbled that the Holy Spirit chose this path for me and continues to guide me. I’m not trying to be modest when I say that all of this has come from the Holy Spirit. He is allowing me to be his vessel. 

Which leads to this website....

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