I’ve had a few different names in my life.
Birth name: Sarah Elizabeth Caplin
New legal name after baptism: Sarahbeth Caplin
New last name after marriage
And now, this Divine Mercy Sunday, another one: Joan, after Joan of Arc. My confirmation saint who has been leading me to Christ since I was ten years old.
Finally, Rome sweet home.
***
Saint Joan of Arc was asked during her trial for heresy if she was in a state of grace. This was a trick question, because if she said yes, she’d be presuming a degree of knowledge that only the church could determine. But if she said no, her guilt would be obvious. She famously responded, “If I am not, may God put me there. And if I am, may God keep me in it.”
This is how I feel whenever a well-intentioned Protestant sends me a message about becoming Catholic. Am I certain that I now have the Capital-T Truth? I could reference the year and a half of classes and prayerful research I did before making this step, but ultimately my answer is simple. If I do not have the truth, may God lead me to it; and if so, may God keep me in it.
For such a devout people pleaser, you’d think I wouldn’t upset people so much with my spiritual choices, yet I do. When it comes to following God’s will for my life, I’m just the type to ask forgiveness over permission. My Jewish family suffered first when I decided to follow Christ in 2008, and now it’s some of my Protestant friends.
Regarding the latter, I understand that their concern comes from a well-intentioned place, so I try to imagine my response if the shoe were on the other foot. In lieu of changing someone’s mind, I’d simply keep on loving them, praying for them, being their friend. What more can anyone do?
Once you upset your Jewish family about following Jesus, though, there’s no criticism you can’t handle 
It would be naive to say that my spiritual journey has reached its zenith now. I know better. Lord willing, if I have another 50 years or so left on earth, there will be untold numbers of revelations and hard decisions. And Lord willing, I’ll be brave enough to follow wherever they may lead.
