My story

Ján Hatina is a 35-year old father of four children. He is director and owner of the first Slovak company offering both passengers transport/taxi-service and courier services - SENT.

If I try to describe my way to God, I cannot exactly remember the day when I totally trusted Him and went back to Him. I think my trip was quite gradual, step by step. Even now I am still learning how to follow the Lord with more and more faith and how to live my life according to His will.

I do remember my first Holy Communion and my first confession; during the socialist regime a priest came regularly to our house and he secretly prepared me to these sacraments. But after this phase, my search of God ended.

I was not interested in God and nobody told me anything about Him. God didn’t exist, was unknown, completely silent; I didn’t need Him.

I regret there are people who do not know the Lord. I can compare life without God and life with God. Life with Jesus has suddenly a profound meaning. People perceive many events and circumstances in a much easier way and with regard to eternity; all earthly things and aspects look irrelevant. People have more peace in their heart; they rejoice because of little things and they are not slaves of wealth, celebration, and acknowledgement.

If we let God enter our life, we are suddenly free; together with God we manage to overcome whatsoever difficult situation. God does not abandon us; He is always with us. He knows what we are living, the way we are, and what we need. No human being would love and understand us better than Jesus. He does not have any conditions; He loves and donates (without reserves).

God is not someone or something you can find. He is the One who comes to you. He goes there where He finds an open heart and a desire for truth, justice, and love.

As for me, He came gradually, through several different situations. First I happen to read some exoteric books. I was attracted by them, though they were full of false and senseless stuff. The breakthrough came when I was about 20. In several occasions I sensed I had the desire to go to the Sunday Mass with my friends. Today, I cannot precisely define why I started to go there. Perhaps the Lord started to call me?

Later on, I met my current wife. She was a Christian. I am convinced that she became the instrument God used for my conversion.  

What the Lord did with me was fantastic. I found the meaning of the Gospel. Here I found all the answers to the sense of our lives. Jesus’ teaching is unbelievably beautiful and truthful. I always thought that such thoughts cannot come from man. I believed that Jesus is the Son of God, because the thoughts He was teaching did not come from this world. Of course His miracles fascinated me; but what amazed me even more was His teaching about love and peace. If you want to recognize and know God, then you should read the Gospels of the New Testaments - and then you will understand.

Later, I felt the desire of confessing my sins and purify my heart before God through the holy Confession. I started to receive the Eucharist. At the age of 23 I received the sacrament of confirmation. I thing this sacrament completely connected me with God. It was the very moment of change in my interior. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that “Confirmation … imprints on the soul an indelible spiritual mark, the character, which is the sign that Jesus Christ has marked a Christian with the seal of His Spirit by clothing him with power from on high so that he may be His witness.”

I understood the gifts of the Church. Before my complete conversion I thought that it is not necessary to go to the Church, to receive the Eucharist, and to go to confession. But here, Jesus helped me understand such mysteries. Today, I cannot imagine my life without these sacraments.

My life radically changed. I give the Lord all my days. I call on Him to help me when I have troubles and problems. He is the Lord and He is above all I have. I am continuously praising Him for His goodness and love that He manifests to me. He takes care of the needs of my family. He always knows when it is time to help us. God is wonderful. I am fascinated by the fact that He loves the sinners (those who are conscious of their faults and are willing to change). I am one of them.

If you want to know God, you have to pray. You have to tell Him what you feel, what you need, and what you are thankful for. You have got to hear His voice. You can hear it in your heart, in your conscience. God also speaks to us through the Holy Scriptures. I personally feel a stronger presence of Jesus after I receive the Eucharist during the Holy Mass. In these moments Jesus fills me with His Spirit. I am sure that He comes to my heart, He purifies me from sins and weakness, and He gives me strength.

I wish all people can open their hearts for Jesus. He will come. He will change your life. What used to be heavy becomes light. What used to be unsolvable will be solved. You will feel a great sense of peace in your life. Of course, things will not always develop according to our plans; but we can always trust our Almighty God.

I had a chance to get persuaded about the goodness and love of our God (throughout several events in my life). I believe that He is our loving Father and that He loves us in a never ending way.

Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!