Back to the Roots: Finding Our Way Home to God

I’ve always loved old things — an heirloom quilt, a weathered farmhouse table, a recipe scribbled in a grandmother’s handwriting. There’s something about going back to the original that feels truer, richer, and more satisfying. You get the whole story — not just the bits and pieces.

The Church is a lot like that. If we look closely at history, we can trace the Christian faith all the way back to one small, powerful moment: the morning the tomb was empty. Jesus had risen, and His followers — ordinary men and women — were about to change the world.

After His resurrection, Jesus gave His apostles one clear mission: “Go and make disciples of all nations…” (Matthew 28:19). That very first community of believers — led by Peter and the apostles — is what we now see as the foundation of the Catholic Church. It wasn’t called “Catholic” at first; that word came later, meaning “universal.” But it was the one, unified Church Jesus started.

For a while, believers were on the same page — one faith, one teaching, one shepherd. But as centuries passed, disagreements crept in. People debated over leadership, the meaning of certain teachings, and even political matters. In 1054, these tensions led to the Great Schism, splitting the Church into Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox. Then, in the 1500s, the Protestant Reformation created even more branches.

Now, don’t misunderstand me — God’s Spirit works in many places. He can use any heart that’s open to Him. But with so many divisions, we’ve sometimes lost sight of the original recipe. And when you lose a key ingredient, you lose some of the richness of the dish.

My Detours and God’s Patience

I wish I could say I’ve always stayed perfectly in step with God, but I haven’t. There have been times I’ve drifted off the path — seasons when my actions and choices didn’t reflect His ways. I’ve sinned. I’ve let the noise of the world get louder than His voice.

But here’s the thing: Jesus didn’t just die for the “little” sins or for the ones we can easily shrug off. He died for all of them. The cross wasn’t a down payment; it was the full price, paid in blood, love, and mercy. When we come to Him, HONESTLY asking for forgiveness, He doesn’t make us earn it back. He wipes the slate clean.

One of the most freeing truths I’ve learned is this: the moment we turn back to God, the past no longer chains us. We are forgiven. That doesn’t mean we keep doing wrong — it means we stand up, dust off, and walk forward in a new direction.

Recognizing the Voice That Leads You

The enemy loves to play dirty. He’ll whisper guilt, shame, and fear into our thoughts. He’ll tell us we’re not good enough, that we’ve messed up too badly to be welcomed back. He'll try to lead us in a direction that is opposite of God. That is not the voice of God. BE AWARE!!!

Jesus said, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” (John 10:27) Here’s a simple way to tell the difference:

• If your thoughts are heavy with condemnation, bitterness, selfishness, or pride — that’s the enemy.

• If your thoughts are urging kindness, truth, forgiveness, and love — that’s God.

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Every good thought, every urge toward goodness, has God’s fingerprints all over it.

Bringing God into the Everyday

We don’t have to reserve God for Sunday mornings or crises. He’s meant to be woven into the fabric of our daily life — while we’re folding laundry, driving to work, cooking dinner, chatting with friends. When we live with that kind of constant connection, we’re far less likely to drift off the path without noticing.

It can be as simple as:

• Whispering a prayer of thanks when the coffee tastes just right.

• Asking for patience before a difficult conversation.

• Turning on worship music or something that teaches you more of God while you clean.

• Reading a short passage of Scripture in the morning before you check your phone.

These little choices keep our hearts tuned to His voice and our steps steady toward Him.

Why We Need to Get Back to the Roots

The early Church wasn’t perfect — no group of people ever is — but it was centered on Jesus and His teachings in a way that kept believers unified. Returning to those roots doesn’t just mean studying history; it means choosing to live the way He told us to live.

It means:

• Loving God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.

• Loving our neighbor as ourselves. (I'm not saying this is always easy, only necessary)

• Forgiving freely, because we’ve been forgiven. (Again, take a deep breath, and do it)

• Staying humble, because we know every good thing is from Him.

When we do this, we step out of the fog of modern distractions and back into the clear light of God’s truth.

The Road Home Is Always Open

Maybe you’ve wandered. Maybe you’ve been hurt, confused, or just distracted. But here’s the most beautiful truth: the road home is always open. The welcome mat is always out. All you have to do is take the next step toward Him. It doesn’t matter how far you’ve strayed or how long you’ve been gone — God’s love hasn’t dimmed one bit.

And when we, as individuals, choose to return to the roots — to the unity, truth, and love we had in the beginning — we’re not just restoring history. We’re stepping into the kind of life Jesus died to give us: forgiven, free, and filled with His presence. Oh, how majestic to live in the footsteps of Jesus as he wanted. Watch how your life changes. I'm not promising perfection, or no struggles. I am telling you how differently you view those when you are closer to him.

If you’re ready to start, don’t wait for a perfect moment. Just whisper, “Lord, I’m coming home.” He’ll meet you right there — in your kitchen, your car, your quiet bedroom. And from there, every step can be in His direction.

XO, Marie