That something else was working as the drama director and English teacher at O'Connell.
Although he prayed to be a successful actor for years, Garcia said that he believes God answers prayers in three ways: One, yes; two, not now; and three, I have a better idea.
"What I really wanted was the lifestyle I grew up with. Good people doing kind things," he said.
In 1985, family friend Martin Harar told Garcia about an opportunity to become a State Farm Insurance agent.
Two years later he had his license and began a new career in insurance.
"I get to meet people one-on-one," he said about his new vocation. "I love stories."
He likes to hear people talk about their lives and to help them build a future for their families.
The Garcia family belongs to St. Ann Church in Arlington. He said he's been studying the tools of his faith for 30 years and is now putting them into practice as a lector and extraordinary minister of holy Communion.
As a lector, he studies the Scriptures before reading them at Mass.
"What's the point of this reading?" he'll ask himself. "What is the point the (the author) is trying to make and how can I get the point across to the congregation?"
He was first asked to be an extraordinary minister of holy Communion in 1989 by Father John T. Cilinski. He said no because of a scheduling conflict..
Several years ago he did volunteer to be extraordinary minister of holy Communion for the hospital ministry and visit the intensive care and cardiac units at the Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington every other Sunday.
The 90 minute visit is a humbling experience, he said.
"I'm bringing them the Lamb of God."
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Some people are angry and some want to pray when he visits. Either way it's a rich experience.
Garcia said he wants to be more apostolic.
"(I want to) live my faith better and make my relationships more about others than about me," he said.
He was asked recently to consider the permanent diaconate. It's a vocation he is praying about.
Garcia said he tries to live his life by the words of Blessed Mother Teresa of Kolkata, "Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love."
Posted with permission from Catholic Herald, official newspaper of the Archdiocese of Arlington, Va.