November 7, 2009

Faith helps insurance agency owner in challenging times

Simple but profound is a good way to describe Tish Oleksy’s practice of Catholicism.

JULIE S. BETTINGER | FLORIDA CATHOLIC CORRESPONDENT

Published: 03.07.08

PENSACOLA | A few years ago, Tish Oleksy found herself sharing a hotel room for three days with an agnostic. “She was an extremely intelligent woman,” Oleksy said, “like a Mensa type.” One night, they started sharing what they believed and Oleksy said the discussion lasted until 5 o’clock in the morning.

“Here I am a cradle Catholic and she doesn’t believe there is a God — and she was very well read.” The discussion took many twists and turns.

“Finally, I looked at her and I said, ‘It’s called faith — that’s what it’s called. Because God told me so and I have faith that it’s the truth.’”

Amazingly, that simple statement ended the conversation — the woman had no reply. And the next day, Oleksy received a gift from the roommate — a T-shirt that read, “’Cause God said so.”

The woman might not have converted, but she admitted years later that hearing Oleksy’s simple summation about faith was a profound experience for her.

Simple but profound is a good way to describe Oleksy’s practice of Catholicism. As an owner of a State Farm Insurance agency and self-described Type A personality, her life is complicated enough. A single mom of two sons, ages 11 and 13, she is on the go beginning at 5 a.m., exercising with a friend who shares her faith. The balance of her day is spent meeting with clients, solving problems and trying to help balance their investment portfolios for a secure retirement.

She attends Mass regularly on Sundays and holy days, and prays daily. “I use memorized prayers that I repeat to myself.” This includes the Hail Mary, the Our Father and Psalm 23, “The Lord is my Shepherd …” She prays them at the start of her day, which is her time to “reflect, get calm and centered.” They give her the peace she needs for the day ahead.

“I’m not the most learned Catholic, but I’m very faithful,” she said.

Occasionally Oleksy is challenged on points related to her faith, but these have managed to make her stance even stronger. In 1996, when she first relocated to northwest Florida from St. Petersburg, she said people tried to tell her that as a Catholic, she wasn’t saved. “I asked them, ‘How can you say that to me?’ Every Mass, we recite the Apostle’s Creed and it’s very clear what we believe.”

Still, the challenges have been fruitful. “Being confronted by other religions made me learn about my faith,” she said, “and having my boys go to Catholic school has made me have to study more. I have to go research to find what the heck they’re talking about. I often wonder, ‘How come I didn’t learn this when I was growing up?’”

Oleksy said she tries to put her faith in practice at the office, though she prefers to quietly witness to the six other agents — all from varying denominations. “I don’t shy away from expressing my faith to my team, but I don’t push my beliefs on them.

“Faith is such an individual thing to me and yet, I think you can really share it through your actions.”

With the uncertainty of her industry in Florida these days, Oleksy said she is relying more than ever on her simple, uncomplicated faith.

“It could be a very fearful time in my career right now because of all the political actions happening in Tallahassee,” she said. “It could mean a huge loss of income. So when I want to wallow in self-pity and worry to death, I instead turn to my faith. It’s what keeps me sane. I have faith in God that if I do the right thing, I’m going to be OK.”

She is often reminded of something she learned from writings by the late Normal Vincent Peale. “I think, ‘How can I complain? Look at all the gifts God has given me.’ I acknowledge, yeah, it’s hard for everybody — now get over it. Say ‘Thank you,’ and move on.”

 

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