What Exactly is God calling us to do?
“I wish we could remember what is truly important”?
A priest without wearing a clerical collar is practically invisible. One can see and overhear things – often hearing the “true truths” that lie within the human heart. Last week I managed to read and hear a few comments that reminded me why we Americans are often held with distain by the so many of our fellow inhabitants of planet earth. We are often seen as entitled, spoiled, self-centered, overly rich, and untrustworthy and not realty concerned about anything beyond our own comforts of the moment.
I read a comment from a participant in the CTC races who seemed to enjoy his/her experience here EXCEPT this person who claims to have participated in about 50 other races this year, and at each other race, participants were given a free T- shirt. We did not give away free T shirts. Not good! But remember that on that very day we began to watch with horror how a cat. 5 hurricane named “Dorian” utterly obliterated an entire island nation. So many there now have no home, possessions, clothing or food. They are missing family members. And yet one can complain that he/she did not receive his/her 51st T-Shirt this year! Would someone remind me of what’s really important?
I happened to overhear a conversation towards the end of the festivities on Monday. A mom pushing for a placement medal for her son because she “knows” where he placed in his age group in a particular race, and the electronic timer (which placed him lower) is obviously wrong. Now before anyone gets offended about my being judgmental, let me assure you that I could care less where anyone placed. This was a fun, charity and fund raising event. Force me to put my hand on a bible, I would solemnly swear that, from my observations, no one currently on the USA Olympic Track Team need fear losing a place on the roster. But in addition to words and body language, I also saw the young (pre?) teen awkwardly (I watched his face and eyes) let this argument take place because I suspect he knows the truth. He will get a medal because of a pushy parent. He will be embarrassed by her but worst of all, will learn a lesson that it’s always better to get your way than to be honest. Having what “I believe I am entitled to” is the highest priority that one should really live by!
Over the summer, JoAnne and I met up with a person whom I had known 45 years ago when she was a teenager and I was serving as a deacon in a parish outside Liverpool. I remember how challenged I was trying to work with that parish youth group that summer of ’74, (and Sue was an active, loud and very vocal member) and how often they all would fling very harsh questions at me about why we "Yanks” are always acting as if we’re entitled to everything. From my continued observations, I wonder if much has changed.
I hope that this is not only an American flaw as much as it is a 21st century human flaw: the self-absorbed notion that the world revolves around me, and the rest of “you” have to adjust to me. You know: the guy who insists talking on the train even in the “quiet car!” It’s not surprising that the most popular form of photograph is now the “selfie.” It’s always about me! So I pose a question: are we permanently losing any sense of what really matters and what is trivial? Is it always about me and what I want at this moment? What’s really important? We know what Jesus commanded about love and service. We know the answers. We should know what’s really important!
Fr. Joe