What is Life?

 

The men’s group met this morning and watched some videos on the upcoming Father’s Day.  The Edgar Guest poem and Scott Hahn’s interpretation of Scriptural references to fatherhood were then discussed by the men.

A lot of the discussion reflected events of the men with their children and grandchildren.  Much differing from one another, yet much the same.  We all had our own perception of a good father, and/or the father our kids allow us to be.  I have no children, but opined that it seemed sad to me that so few parents bring kids to the adoration chapel to spend time with God and, if at all, it is usually mothers bringing their kids.  I rarely see fathers bringing their sons, a key example of modeling and teaching which most fathers are missing.  “No,” some offered in a differing viewpoint, “It is the mothers that kids look to for wants/needs and teaching; fathers are disciplinarians in a family.  And I thought:  God the Father is not a father of discipline only --- as the Old Testament Jews often saw Him --- but I was quiet.

Leaving the meeting, I saw the bright sun peeking through the morning clouds, shining on me.  I often feel as if that is a personal event, and then a thought suddenly came to me: “What is Life?”  And the answer came just as quickly: “It is an opportunity to love”. 

I pondered for a moment on how those thoughts related to fathers and their kids, and while I could create a relationship, that did not seem to be the point of the thoughts.  The questions asked weren’t relating to earthly fathers, I realized, but to our heavenly, Eternal Father.  Why did He create life?  His act of creation was an opportunity for God to love, doing what is the essence of His Being: God is Love.  From His viewpoint, the life He created was an opportunity for His creation to love, for it was made in His Image.  At his best, man is the image of his Spiritual Creator Father, so man loves.  The Father could not have created anything more valuable to Himself.

I see the morning sun so bright.  A mirror reflection is not the sun itself, but it is almost as bright.  I think God created us to be that way, as mirror images of Himself.  A mirror can spread the sun’s light, and man can spread God’s love.  Jesus said: “Love God, and love your neighbor as I love him” --- like a mirror image.

What is life?  From God’s viewpoint, it is an opportunity to love, and the focus of that love (man) can image His love, spreading it farther.  God is Spirit and cannot grow in human terms, but in man He can see growth in love.  And to help us understand God, He sent His Son as a man, to show us what His Love looks like.  He gave Jesus a human life, and an opportunity to show man what growth in love, perfect love, can look like (although every man is created as a unique being).  Man can’t be God, but man WAS created to love.  When we reflect on our children (and our neighbors), that is what we should reflect on: am I loving as I was created to be?  If we do that, even if only like a dim image of the sun, our children and the world will see that love, and God the Father will shine on us.

The Roman historians described the early Christians by saying: “See how they love one another.”  That’s as good a definition of Christ’s followers as you can get.

Review: Be An Angel

 

The sub-title of this book says:  Devotions to Inspire and Encourage Love and Light Along the Way.  In brief, it does.

The book is a series of short stories and reflections on how to live a virtuous life.  The virtues are listed as:  Kindness, Love, Courage, Forgiveness, Hope, Faith, Gratitude, Friendship, Trust and Grace.  Feelings of Loss, Encouragement and Joy are grouped at the end, and lastly (and appropriately) Change.  Each of the listed virtues or feelings have three or four short chapters to show examples of how they work --- and their results.

I did not know the author, Roma Downey, star of the Touched By An Angel hit television series, was Catholic.  This book has no Catholic doctrine focus, but is Christian-based.  I gave a copy to a Protestant minister, who a week later told me how she had already sent copies to many friends.  This is an uplifting book, showing how living a Christian life of love can make you and others happy, even in dark times.  I will be giving away many copies of this book also. 

The book brings joy, even as it includes a gentle prod at the end of each chapter, challenging the reader to look at this world through new eyes, and in doing so to bring joy to their family, their friends and neighbors, and to this world.  And, I’m sure, to God.  And by being an angel, the author very effectively demonstrates how much heavenly joy she found for herself.  And she convincingly relates how that joy is waiting for you also.

This book is a must read.

You're Worth Dying For

 

The odds are very high that one of your young children is depressed, and may have even considered suicide, or at least knows someone who has tried.  This is America today.  Perhaps you are sheltered from (or just not aware of) these facts, but our children are not.  Children!  Not mature enough to drive or drink or vote or join the military, but they can legally decide to have an abortion or change their sex.  And in Canada and other countries they are now considering allowing children to choose euthanasia, if they deem their life not worth living.  Growing up, I never heard that phrase “a life not worth living,” but today parents may use it to explain to their kids why they aborted a soon-to-be sibling:  “They would have been born with this disease or that.”  Not perfect, “They’d had a life not worth living.”  So, I guess it’s not surprising that kids today would at some point ask that question of themselves: “Is my life worth living?”

The daily news exudes depressing information on almost any topic you can think of.  Bad news is their good news.  And REAL good news is rarely reported.  But it is there.

The Marine Corps still has the motto: “No man left behind.”  Every fellow marine is worth dying for.  They are like a loving family.  Somehow, a similar sense of worth and importance needs to be conveyed to our children today.  It’s not being routinely taught as it once was.

Using the Marine Corps example, marines are taught how to fight for what is good for their country, for their community.  As for themselves, they know the fight will be hard; they expect it, and they commit to it, and to all the pains they must suffer.  They know they are not alone in their suffering; their fellow marines are there for them.

Children once felt that way, in their family, in their church.  Today they no longer feel that worth.  Someone needs to tell them.  Someone needs to sincerely say to each one: “Your life is so important.  Please don’t be sad.  I love you; I would die for you.  Things may be hard now, and you can’t see the end, and it hurts.  But I am here with you.  Always.”

And if they, in their depression or “I know it all” attitude push back, a hug might be in order, and a reminder that they are so important that you are not the only one who would die for them.  There is someone else, too.  “And He knows you and all you’re going through even better than I do.  And He DID die for you.  Even now, He looks at you and says ‘I’d give my life for you again. I know you are worth it.  I know your worth more than anyone; I made you, and you are worth the world to me.  Please hold on.  Trust Me.  I want you with me always.  And I will always love you.”

I gave you life.  Trust me, and I will give you eternal life. 

Every child needs to know deeply in their heart that their life is worth living, even if it is hard.  They were made for this.  And for the eternal happiness which will follow.