 Br. Karl Lupe Gonzalez, OP
I was the last of ten children to arrive at my parents home in Colorado. Being the
last, I missed many of the experiences that my other brothers and sisters shared. For
example, my third oldest brother was on the back of my sister's ten speed petal bike and
he almost immediately started crying. My sister, said it's ok you'll get used to the ride
after a while and she kept going. My brother didn't stop crying, however, so eventually my
sister stopped pedaling, turned around to see what he was crying about and noticed that
his feet were caught in the spokes. Okay maybe that's not one of the experiences I
miss. When I was growing up I thought that my parents were strict compared to my
friends' parents. For example, if we were watching TV and if before the show an
announcement was made that, "This program should be viewed with parental
guidance" my Dad would say, "Son get up turn the TV off." (This was before
remote controls.)
Dad's simple guidance was that, "If you don't need it, don't do
it. " I wanted to go out and have fun with my friends, which I probably didn't need,
and they didn't let me to go. So I was relieved when I was allowed to get away from home
as I went to college to get my Electrical Engineering Degree.
Enjoying my new found independence, and wanting to travel and see the world, I joined
the Army. I was initially stationed overseas in Germany. In those days, we
knew our enemy because they wore a uniform. I was one of the few that physically
chipped away the Berlin Wall bringing it down. When Gulf War erupted, I was providing
security from terrorists there in Germany. Later, I found myself providing comfort
to the Kurdish people in Northern Iraq. Then, I was stationed in Texas where I was the
Commander of the Army's largest deployable company with track and wheeled vehicles, worth
millions of dollars.
By the grace of God, I was transferred to California and stationed on the North side of
the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco and lived there at the Parkmerced apartments.
That's when I found St. Dominic's Church. Being new, I entered from the vestibule and I
was reminded of the beautiful churches in Europe. I looked around the pews and
encountered people who were warm, accepting, and encouraging one another in their faith
journeys. One of the ladies, at the time, sensed my closeness to the rosary. She
asked me to lead a class for the Young Adult Group regarding my affinity for the rosary.
Teaching this class rekindled my devotion.
My commitment to the Army was nearly complete, and I was faced with the choice of
continuing or leaving the military life. Would I leave the military and stay in
Texas or change my duty station and continue on in the Army? I prayed the rosary for
guidance and learned two things. First, if I left the military and stayed in Bay
Area, I would grow as a person. Secondly, if I were to remain in the military,
things would be the same. So I chose to grow. I got a civilian job in Hayward,
CA on the other side of the Bay.
Staying here enabled me to go to Rome with 20 other young adults from St. Dominic's
Parish and two Dominican priests for the 2000 Jubilee pilgrimage. When I came back my life
changed. It was as if I had been included in on a secret about this life, that Christ
really was here on Earth and was involved in the things that we do. Christ began to show
me that my search for independence made me dependent - dependent of my own desires. He
showed me that my vices were like chains (St. Paul calls them thorns) tied to hell, that
these vices make us weak to the point that we may be pulled down into darkness, but we are
also able to free ourselves from these chains .
I learned that only Christ can strengthen us against vices and He can transform our
weakness into virtue, but we must have the Faith. I once read a quote while working
at a dining hall for the poor, "Faith is not a belief; it is trust without
reservations."
Christ is present in the people around us, one just has to look. He is
especially seen in the people of the Dominican parish. The saints in heaven are
looking down praying for our growth towards Christ, just as depicted in the stain glass
windows at St. Dominic's Church. The people gathered and sitting next to you are beacons
radiating the colors from heaven in this earth-toned world. They show his acceptance his
forgiveness and strength. It is because of Christ in these people why I have chosen the
Dominican order.
[Updated: 9/12/03]
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