Hope of Another

There are times when I speak the word of God and feel as though I am speaking gibberish.  I wonder if anyone could understand the craziness emanating from my mouth.  I have been blessed with parents who have been able to affirm what I am saying, but is that enough?  It would be wonderful to hear the same language spoken by another.

Just the other day, a true miracle happened when I stumbled upon a podcast from Word on Fire.  Word on Fire is an organization run by the well-known Bishop Barron.  He had interviewed the popular actor, Shia LeBeouf.  At first, I had no idea what to make of the interview, mainly because it was hard to believe Shia had become Catholic.  I was a big fan of his when I was younger.  I started to enjoy his character Louis Stevens on the show Even Stevens sponsored by the Disney Channel.  I developed a significant crush on him as he grew older and played more roles in the movie “Holes” and “Charlie’s Angels–Full Throttle.”  Unfortunately, like many actors do, he fell on hard times.  It honestly broke my heart and I believed he was lost.  Listening to this podcast with Bishop Barron, it sounded as though Shia believed he was lost too.  He even came close to taking his own life, but then God stepped in.  Shia took on the role of playing Padre Pio in a movie, which was astonishing.

I listened to this interview as I walked through the mall in Augusta, GA.  I thought I must look insane because I had such a huge smile on my face.  Shia was speaking my language!  He spoke of his love for the Latin Mass because the others said in English sounded as though they were trying to sell him something.  He talked about the time he spent with the Capuchin Friars in preparation for his role and the way they took him in and offered him meals and laughter.  I had also been “taken in” by the friars in New York City.  My first Thanksgiving in NYC I was all alone with nowhere to go, so I went to the friars.  There was so much joy in serving a meal to the homeless, I could not believe you could have so much with so little to offer.

Most importantly though, Bishop Barron and Shia talked about how God took Shia’s life from an ego-drama to a Theo-drama.  Shia accepted the role of Padre Pio thinking it would revive his career, but instead God created a greater plan for him.  This gave me much hope because it is exactly what God did for me.  I went to New York thinking I would get a “big break” but instead I found myself giving my life to God and saying yes to His plan while giving up mine.  Miraculously, I discovered God’s plan was going to be much better than I imagined.  God takes whatever He can and uses it for His greater good.  He did that as well with Shia, and it was truly a miracle.

Shia’s story filled me with hope. God can do anything–save lost souls and transform them into people more incredible than they would have thought possible. I am now confident that there are other people who speak my language and completely understand the word of God.