PARADOXICAL

The faith chronicles

Thursday, February 28, 2013

Quote

"The beauty of aspiring to be a saint is that I don’t have to be like anyone else." - Stef

This statement strikes me deeply. In the faith walk/spiritual journey, ultimately, we go it alone. Mentors, role models, 'idols,' are a big help but their walk is not our walk. Our walk is not their walk either; it is ours. Alone.

Unless you are a child that needs constant direction, you work on your own salvation, you pull yourself by your own bootstraps. This is not about our needing others in the journey (we do indeed need to be strengthened), and neither about our duty to reach out to others and tell the good news (we should share God's blessings and witness to God's love); it is about our being faced with no choice but to do the very act of choosing. I guess it's the 'curse' of being gifted/graced with free will.

In the end, in every moment we are faced with a moral decision, it's always our call, it's us who make the choice. No one else can make that choice for us, for it's us individually who are answerable to God. The only thing the rest can do for us is perhaps intercede, intervene, but we always have to face the consequences of our own actions. We are to render an account.

We came to this life and we'll leave it alone. It's a lone-ly life, a lone-ly world, but that's how it is. It seems sad this way, but it is not. There is deep joy in this freedom, in the ability to choose between good and evil in the extent not given to angels.

While it is said that, when God saves, He saves entire families/communities, it's a comfort to know that God deals with us in our own unique circumstances. It's our own terms against His own terms. Like a father and mother to their child, we can be assured to be "met right where we are.," and be dealt with truly fair justice. While it's true that His truths are absolute and His standards the same across time and space, He alone knows, He alone is cognizant of the 'mitigating factors' of our lives. He alone knows our heart fully.

Thus, to one, He seems harsh, while to another, He seems lax. We on earth, poor sods who only have a very restricted perspective, viewing reality from a narrow window of time and space, can only trust in His wisdom, in the divine motivation of love that's totally free and without conditions.

posted by Resty Odon # 4:31 PM

Comments:

True that. At the same time, when we surround ourselves -- on purpose or accidentally -- with people who are also working hard on their salvation, we can't helped but be pulled up as well. I know my husband has done so much for me in terms of inspiring me to holiness. Parang wala kang choice but to follow in that person's lead. And it doesn't have to be a husband. I have role models -- other moms I either know personally or follow through blogs. And then the saints of course, in their own words, like St. Teresa of Avila or St. Therese of Lisieux. Sometimes I think, I can't possibly reach the summit like they did -- and then at times, it's hey, if they (who were but human like me) could do it, why shouldn't I put forth my best to do so as well?

I'm glad you found something in my reflection that helped you :)

# posted by

stef : 1:02 AM

I agree naman with your points. It's just that -- and I forgot to add this point -- relying on fellow humans too much (take note: I said too much) can also tempt us into yet another form of idolatry. Worse, it sets us up for possible disappointment in case the person doesn't live up to our usual script of him/her. I think striking a healthy balance is key. We allow ourselves to be inspired by others, but at the end of the day, it's really between us and God.

# posted by

Resty Odon : 3:58 AM

Oh no, I don't mean naman na putting people on a pedestal. Only God is worship-worthy. But it helps to "observe" fellow human beings who also struggle, and yet are able to overcome the very hurdles I struggle with myself. Parang 'yung comparison -- an unhealthy comparison would be -- buti pa s'ya, he or she can do this, do that. But a healthy comparison would be -- if he/she with God's help and by God's grace, was able to do that, surely that's (holiness) what God wants for me too.

# posted by

stef : 3:58 PM

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