Finding strength and purpose with Blessed Francis Jordan

I guess no one starts a blog without a back story. Something that makes them who they are, but also motivates them to try something new.

Mine isn’t that unique.

Taking on a different role in my family life, I found myself unable to live out my Lay Salvatorian commitment in the ways I had been before. Whilst I have had no doubt that this is what I was being called to do, I have not felt completely content. I can justify that I am still trying to spread the Gospel in my new experiences, every day and in all I do. But I also feel some sort of tugging that won’t go away. A sense of something else, an itch that can’t be scratched. I know it’s not for something huge and sensational, but something nonetheless.

I have wanted to spend some of this period in my life learning more about the Founder, understanding him better and being inspired by him more. To get back to the basics. Blessed Francis Jordan is an intriguing person. In many ways, he seems unimportant, unexciting, and not particularly noteworthy. But the more I have learnt about him, the more I admire him. He overcame struggles, persisted despite lack of support and resources, and stayed incredibly firm in his faith through it all.

I am at home more so it’s the perfect opportunity to do more reading and more searching. But I have found it hard to stay consistent. It’s nice to learn things, but then what? What can I do to keep myself on track and accountable and wanting to go deeper? How do I take what I read and reflect on it with no one around?

So here I am.

In many ways, I don’t expect anyone else to read this, and in a lot of ways, I hope they don’t! I am not an author, a writer. I had to work pretty hard at English at school as it was one of my worst subjects. I’m also not a theologian, with no degrees or studies of this sort.

I am just me, curious to know more, and with a desire to be inspired. And trying to live out my charism to use all ways and means to share the Gospel. To not rest content until all know, love and serve Jesus Christ as their saviour.

So I guess it’s time to stop procrastinating and time to get on with it!