Speaking Up About My Faith
by Kathleen Lochridge
In my early 30s, as a mother of two daughters under the age of 3, I was invited by a few friends I had met through a mommy and me exercise group to attend a "mom's weekend away" in California. I was excited to join other mothers with whom I felt I had much in common due to our experiences of being in the thick of motherhood with young children. We often shared stories at our exercise classes about the joys and challenges of parenting toddlers, and I felt that although we all had different perspectives, we were very comfortable communicating our worries and wisdom. If our conversations veered from parenting tips and experiences, the topics were light, often about date nights with our spouses, books we had read, etc. Then we would head out for the day and meet again later that week with new stories to share about sleep deprivation, the best baby gear, and more kid-centered topics.
When the time came for a small group of us to attend our weekend away (for some, our first weekend without our children), I was excited and anxious. In addition to the genuine concerns about leaving my kids for a few days, I had never spent more than a few hours with my new friends, and I wasn't sure what to expect. However, when we arrived at the house, much of the nervousness faded as we immediately put on our swimsuits and hopped into the hot tub.
Religion came up as a few of us sat chatting about our latest news. I did not know these women well and do not typically engage in conversations about sensitive topics like politics and religion. I also didn't want to start our trip off on the wrong foot with a debate about a serious issue. I listened as some of the moms shared that they went to church as children but did not believe in organized religion and did not plan to raise their children with any specific beliefs. They didn't know if anyone still deeply believed in God or Jesus once they became an adult, beyond perhaps what they were taught as a child. I did not interject but listened intently, wondering if I would feel the courage to speak up about my beliefs. After all, I had another two days to spend with the group, and it would have been easier to let it lie.
As I sensed the conversation was about to go in a different direction, my heart began to race, and I felt an overwhelming urge to say something about my faith. Even though I was not sure how my comments would be received, I blurted out, "I believe in Jesus Christ." I described how I was raising my children in the Catholic Church, as I had been, that I regularly attended Mass, and my faith was important to me. As I waited for a response, I tried to evaluate their expressions to prepare for what they might say. Fortunately, the women kindly said they respected my opinion and perspective, and we continued to the next topic. Nothing more was said that weekend about the subject, but I felt relieved that I had made this integral part of my identity known to the group.
I will never forget the feeling that overcame me at that moment when I could have easily let the opportunity pass to share my faith in Jesus Christ with others. Though small, this experience gave me the courage to speak up more about my faith, despite fearing rejection or confrontation. My faith has only grown deeper since then, and I have become more confident and comfortable in discussing the "taboo" topic of religion. I hope that speaking up, even among a small group of new friends, had a positive impact and shared the message of Jesus Christ.
Kathleen Lochridge is a 7th-generation Arizonan who spent her childhood in Phoenix. She is a graduate of the University of Arizona in Tucson, and began her career working as a lobbyist with the Tucson Chamber of Commerce. She then spent 15 years in public service, including more than 5 years in Washington, DC, working at the White House and on Capitol Hill. She moved back to Phoenix in 2013, and is raising 3 children with her husband of 13 years.