An Adventure to Wholiness

Life has always been a fun adventure for me. As a life-long athlete and a current musician, I grew up being very active in many different sports and playing music. I fell in love with surfing at a young age, and being outside in nature has always been how I connect with God and others. Over the last few years, though, the things that once brought me joy, presence, and ease, became more things I needed to do rather than freely do.

Through the pandemic and transitioning into my adult years, I found it challenging to find other Catholics taking care of their whole person: mind, body, and soul. The nine wellness pillars helped me become aware of areas in my health that I needed to embrace further and invite Christ. I noticed my biggest challenges were community, movement, and play. It is easy for me to exercise for the sake of a specific goal and result and forget about the gift that my body is, that movement can be play, and that I do not have to punish myself. I also stopped playing music as much- I didn't have time same time to dedicate to it throughout my studies.

Encountering Reform and their community was life-changing for me. I found my people! I began to experience joy and freedom around movement and play again. I was reminded that wholeness and holiness are for everyone; including me. I embraced a community of like-minded people who desire to live life in abundance. By walking the walk, providing educational tools, and a ton of resources that I use daily, Jackie and the team gave me hope that I can be fully alive in Christ. I also learned that people in the Church share this desire to be fully alive.

Changing my perspective on these pillars as an adult has helped me be grounded in the truth that we must become childlike to get to heaven. I received permission to live out the adventure my heart was desiring. Life does not have to be a to-do list and investing time in my well-being is essential. I loved every pillar, and the depth that the content in Reform Online goes into was next level. The Father's heart desires to see His children flourish and not be weighed down by the stress and chaos of our culture today. I believe Reform is the antidote to the chaos and confusion offered in the world. The world and the Church need Reform.

My prayer is that the Holy Spirit will continue to move the hearts of those who need healing and restoration and will lead them to Reform to encounter the fullness of life the Gospel offers! Reform is for everyone. Life is ad adventure that we live on the way to the Kingdom.

— Andrew Laubacher