I am a “Cradle Catholic” and a church-goer. I always have been and probably always will be. I was raised in a family where you went to church every single Sunday no matter the extremity of circumstances and now, 23 years later as an adult living on my own, I still feel guilty if I miss a Sunday mass. Recently, I have found myself going to church a lot more, up to two or three times a week because instead of being an obligation, it has turned into a sort of outlet for me.

The other morning, I attended daily mass and I started to list the reasons in my mind as to why I was there: I love to sing church music, it’s a relaxing and peaceful way to start my day, and because I am a sinner who needs to repent for all of my wrongdoings. I feel better after attending mass. Following morning masses, though, I always see older people and the priest looking my way like I am this amazing and genuinely good young adult for taking time out of my morning unlike the majority of my peers to go to mass. I would like to point out that I in no way have been a good person throughout the past two years. On the contrary, I have become a much more bitter, cold-hearted, unkind, and less thoughtful version of my old self, although I have attended mass more in the past two years than I ever have before.

I am surrounded by a lot of beautiful and kind people in my life, many of whom do not go to church, and also some people that do attend church. I am also surrounded by those, like myself, who go to church that I would not say are the most selfless or conscience-driven individuals. I see some of the most pristine displays of selflessness in those that do not attend church, constantly serving othersin a way that I have lost over the years. At the end of each mass the priest typically says “Go forth and celebrate the Lord” or “Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.” Something important that I have forgotten though is that by serving the Lord I am supposed to be serving others and treating them with the kindness that they deserve. I am supposed to love others regardless of whatever characteristics that they hold or sins they have committed.

Sometimes I am very stubborn, judgmental, and can hold grudges. Does that sound like the glorified and skewed view that our society has for the “church-goers” of the world? Absolutely not. However, some of my people that do not go to church spend their time crossing oceans for people, even when they receive nothing in return. Even some of my family members that do not go to church I would honestly say are much better human beings than I have ever been. They are so full of love, openness, and joy.

So this is my task to all of you. Put these preempted views of people aside. Do not simply assume that those people that are constant church-goers are automatically good people, because I promise you that many of us really aren’t. Most of us spend our weeks continually apologizing and "repenting" for doing the same cruel and negative things over and over again. Also, do not assume that just because someone does not go to church that they probably aren’t a good person. The way that people live their lives outside of Sunday is what matters the most. I am trying to make the most out of the other six days of the week and I urge the rest of you to do the same. Be good human beings first, put your judgments of others aside, and the rest will fall into place.

Live your life in the best and most positive way possible. Have hope and believe in something, it doesn’t have to be God. Believe in yourself. Remember to love people regardless of who they love or the color of their skin. Forgive others because at the end of the day whether we are good or bad ones, we are still human beings and we make mistakes. Most importantly, regardless of the mistakes you have made, believe in grace. Forgive yourself and love yourself because even if you aren’t a good person, it’s never too late to start and I promise you that, while some people might, you do not have to go to church to begin that journey. Judgment aside, believe in others and the goodness they may have buried in their heart. At the end of the day, “Anyone can find the dirt in someone. Be the one that finds the gold,” regardless of their church-attending status.