There are all sorts of holidays throughout the year. Some of them are religious in nature (Christmas and Easter), while others salute the armed forces (Memorial Day and Veterans Day). This past Monday though, was Labor Day. Everything, for the most part, shuts down.
Many look at it as just a long weekend, a chance to grill one last time before the frigid air of fall and winter finally moves in. But, we have the day off for a reason, an important reason. Much like Memorial Day, the unofficial beginning of summer, Labor Day, the unofficial end of summer, is under appreciated.
But, once again, it's time to look at this a little differently. We all work hard on a daily basis at our respective positions. Whether you're a businessman or a teacher, a day off is a blessing. It's also a time though, to reflect and pray for those who, even though it's a national holiday, still had to wake up and go into the workplace.
How do you think that newscast at 6pm went on? Anchors and reporters worked all Labor Day to put that together, most likely without any overtime hours.
How did that grass on the golf course you played on get cut? Well, someone was up before sunrise on the mower making sure the course looked nice.
Yup, those 24-hour operators weren't an automation either, as people had to come in and work so you could have your high definition satellite television fixed on the telephone.
Every job is different, some more different than others. Some baseball players only play once every five days, and get millions to do that. Others work 80 hours a week for just enough money to support their family.
It's a slippery slope, the job market. God wants us to be happy and love what we do. Usually, the more you like something, the harder you'll work and you'll be better at performing the tasks over the course of the day. However, out of necessity, some have to take the job, or jobs, that are available where they live. It's much harder to love work when one is forced to do it. We need to pray for those people, that they will work through those tough times, and find their niche, that will be both beneficial to their bank account and their well being.
I bring up the fact that we need money because this week's Gospel can be tough to handle. Who wants to renounce all of their possessions? How would one live, and support their loved ones, in those conditions? We don't necessarily have to take Jesus literally here. There are a few possibilities as to what exactly he means...
-He could be saying that we need to get rid of our lavish, gluttonous possessions. The stuff that we don't really need. Houses with 7 extra bedrooms, 4 extra cars for only 2 people, diamonds upon diamonds for your spouse...stuff like that. Those funds can go to better causes, that would help others out much much more.
But I have another thought that might be a bit more practical for those that don't have the funds to buy a million cars...
-Maybe Jesus is saying that we need to renounce the possessions of our mind. The thoughts of doubt, negativity, self-pity, and cynicism all are thoughts that bring us down in every way possible. They "possess" and take over our minds as well, not letting or shutting out anything good that wants to come in. By stripping those away, or getting to the root of those thoughts, we make room for Jesus, and his words. Think of the focus you can have during Church. Imagine hanging on every word the Priest says throughout mass...now that would be an accomplishment for the greater good.
Ok, so Labor Day? Let's tie it together. It's easy to take our own jobs and salary for granted, but let's appreciate those that work behind the scenes to make everyday life possible. Their happiness and well being at home depends solely on the money coming in from their job. For others, it's time to give all that extra money to those people in need, so that we can indeed have that piece of mind to rid ourselves of negativity. Life is too short to dread our job, or coming home, or random things in life in general. Don't be that miserable person, be that person who brightens everyone's day.
So, with your own possessive negativity renounced...why not start a pleasant conversation with that cashier on their last leg, and maybe inspire them to do the same.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
These Changing Times
As the date turned from August 31st to September 1st last night, more than just the picture on your calendar changed. Although it's still a million degrees outside here in Ithaca, in just a few days, Labor Day will signal the unofficial end of summer. School buses will be back on their normal routes, those late summer nights will turn into 10:00 bed times.
While all of those seasonal changes are taking place, something bigger is going on at the same time. Everyone is a year older, and most, but not all, a year wiser. Think about where you were on this date one year ago. What were you doing? What was your state of mind?
Now, as a senior in college, I can't help but look back on four years ago at this time. I was just a little freshman, really without a clue what was going on. Now at 22, I feel pretty old. I mean, one of my teachers even told me they thought I had already graduated. Entertaining, but it makes you think a little bit. The fact is that no matter where you are in your life, age 12,22,42,or 62 you need to really ask yourself if this is where you want to be. Your own personal happiness can often control the happiness around you. It's contagious isn't it? A person is much more willing to help someone else, with a smile on their face, when they are happy with their own life. As things change, both big and small, it's important to remember that fact, and to stay in and treasure each and every moment, because before you know it, you're 22.
That idea of staying in the moment, and figuring out your state of mind as things change, relates to last week's readings too...it wouldn't be a Session with Eschen without some kind of connection right? The first reading from Sirach says not to search into things beyond your strength. You cannot control a lot of what happens in the future, which is why we all need to focus on the here and now, and if the way we are living makes us truly happy.
Adversity hits at unexpected times. We all know when the leaves will change from green to red to nothing, and can get ready for that. Our human nature tells us when to gear up for a school year or work, but it's what we do on a daily basis that gets us ready for anything bad that might happen unexpectedly. That's the only part that is within our strength.
The ongoing theme this week is to humble yourself. We need to humble ourselves enough to say that, hey, we need help, especially for those different aspects that are beyond our strength. That is where God takes over. With him, it's that much easier to get through tough times, and tough transitions as well. Your faith will be rewarded.
Somehow, Morgan Freeman is a constant in my movie references, but this time, it is him whose faith is rewarded. A couple years ago, the Batman movie, "The Dark Knight," was a summer box office hit. Morgan Freeman is Batman's technological guru, designing suits, weapons, and even the famous Batmobile. At the end of the movie, Batman puts his own spin on one of Freeman's inventions, making every cell phone a sonar like device, enabling Batman to invade every person's privacy in the city. Freeman says it's too much power for one man to have, and vows he will resign after Batman saves the day. But, after Batman tells Freeman to type his name in at the end, the system combusts, showing Freeman that indeed, his mind was in the right place.
Go to 1:02 of this link, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9c8w8ONAWM, to see the scene.
Freeman may not have liked that turn of events at the beginning, but Batman showed him the good that came from tough times.
As a whole, we are better because of all of the adversity that comes our way. Sure, it might be tough to handle in the moment, but by having faith in God, that he will indeed reward us for believing in him, and that good will come of it, we can get through it.
Starting college for the first time might be a big change, starting your first year at a new job might be one too. Starting your junior year might be a small blip on your radar, much like the end of summer for some. A sports injury or a family emergency will be unexpected. But, by focusing only about what is within our strength on a daily basis, we are ready for anything. By having faith in God being at our side, we don't have to question the fact that good will come from bad. That is how we get through those changes.
And as old as I might joke that I am, I know that today is all that matters, so why not enjoy it. When changes hit, it's time to embrace them, instead of hiding. It makes us who we are today, and who we will be a year from today too.
While all of those seasonal changes are taking place, something bigger is going on at the same time. Everyone is a year older, and most, but not all, a year wiser. Think about where you were on this date one year ago. What were you doing? What was your state of mind?
Now, as a senior in college, I can't help but look back on four years ago at this time. I was just a little freshman, really without a clue what was going on. Now at 22, I feel pretty old. I mean, one of my teachers even told me they thought I had already graduated. Entertaining, but it makes you think a little bit. The fact is that no matter where you are in your life, age 12,22,42,or 62 you need to really ask yourself if this is where you want to be. Your own personal happiness can often control the happiness around you. It's contagious isn't it? A person is much more willing to help someone else, with a smile on their face, when they are happy with their own life. As things change, both big and small, it's important to remember that fact, and to stay in and treasure each and every moment, because before you know it, you're 22.
That idea of staying in the moment, and figuring out your state of mind as things change, relates to last week's readings too...it wouldn't be a Session with Eschen without some kind of connection right? The first reading from Sirach says not to search into things beyond your strength. You cannot control a lot of what happens in the future, which is why we all need to focus on the here and now, and if the way we are living makes us truly happy.
Adversity hits at unexpected times. We all know when the leaves will change from green to red to nothing, and can get ready for that. Our human nature tells us when to gear up for a school year or work, but it's what we do on a daily basis that gets us ready for anything bad that might happen unexpectedly. That's the only part that is within our strength.
The ongoing theme this week is to humble yourself. We need to humble ourselves enough to say that, hey, we need help, especially for those different aspects that are beyond our strength. That is where God takes over. With him, it's that much easier to get through tough times, and tough transitions as well. Your faith will be rewarded.
Somehow, Morgan Freeman is a constant in my movie references, but this time, it is him whose faith is rewarded. A couple years ago, the Batman movie, "The Dark Knight," was a summer box office hit. Morgan Freeman is Batman's technological guru, designing suits, weapons, and even the famous Batmobile. At the end of the movie, Batman puts his own spin on one of Freeman's inventions, making every cell phone a sonar like device, enabling Batman to invade every person's privacy in the city. Freeman says it's too much power for one man to have, and vows he will resign after Batman saves the day. But, after Batman tells Freeman to type his name in at the end, the system combusts, showing Freeman that indeed, his mind was in the right place.
Go to 1:02 of this link, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9c8w8ONAWM, to see the scene.
Freeman may not have liked that turn of events at the beginning, but Batman showed him the good that came from tough times.
As a whole, we are better because of all of the adversity that comes our way. Sure, it might be tough to handle in the moment, but by having faith in God, that he will indeed reward us for believing in him, and that good will come of it, we can get through it.
Starting college for the first time might be a big change, starting your first year at a new job might be one too. Starting your junior year might be a small blip on your radar, much like the end of summer for some. A sports injury or a family emergency will be unexpected. But, by focusing only about what is within our strength on a daily basis, we are ready for anything. By having faith in God being at our side, we don't have to question the fact that good will come from bad. That is how we get through those changes.
And as old as I might joke that I am, I know that today is all that matters, so why not enjoy it. When changes hit, it's time to embrace them, instead of hiding. It makes us who we are today, and who we will be a year from today too.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Back to Work
Well, I'm back for one final year here at the Ithaca College Catholic Community, and will once again be sharing thoughts about God, sports, school, and anything else that happens to cross my mind.
For those of you new to this forum, my name is Tom Eschen, a journalism major at Ithaca College. I played baseball for two years at IC, and am currently in my fourth and final season of playing football for the Bombers. This is my second year blogging with the Ithaca College Catholic Community, and hopefully I'll get better with every new post. So, I'm open to any suggestions or comments, of which you can either post right to the site or email me at teschen1@ithaca.edu.
It should be a fun semester, with my first post coming this Wednesday, September 1st...yes it is September already.
Good stuff...I'll see you out there.
For those of you new to this forum, my name is Tom Eschen, a journalism major at Ithaca College. I played baseball for two years at IC, and am currently in my fourth and final season of playing football for the Bombers. This is my second year blogging with the Ithaca College Catholic Community, and hopefully I'll get better with every new post. So, I'm open to any suggestions or comments, of which you can either post right to the site or email me at teschen1@ithaca.edu.
It should be a fun semester, with my first post coming this Wednesday, September 1st...yes it is September already.
Good stuff...I'll see you out there.
Monday, May 3, 2010
The Golden Rule
Well, Jesus can't make it much simpler in the Gospel this week. He sums up basically all 10 Commandments in one simple statement: "Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another."
If you're looking for the key to life, read that statement again. Then again, it might be easy to say, but surely it isn't the easiest thing to do. I'm not saying go and buy flowers and candy for someone who just beat you up or hurt you badly emotionally, I'm just saying that you may not like them, but they are one of God's children just like you and me. That's why you love them, because they are made out of God's image and likeness.
At the end of this Gospel, Jesus says, "That is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."
It's like those television commercials where people doing good deeds spreads, and gets passed on and on and on. Someone opens a door for someone, then that person helps someone pick up papers, then that person lets them use their pen. The little things. If someone sees you showing compassion even in the toughest of atmospheres, they'll definitely learn from that. It's quite common to be wrongly accused of doing something to someone.
Say your best friend thinks you intentionally are trying to sabotage a relationship with someone else, and screams at you for that. It's easy to give in and fight back, but Jesus wants us to take a deep breath, and discuss things like human beings. By having that love of each other in the front of our minds, respect for other's viewpoints and opinions grows. Then, conflict can actually be resolved without World War 3 happening in your living room. By doing that, God can actually see that you truly believe in his teachings.
This whole taking a breath thing is widely underrated and underused. A few weeks ago, I was blogging about the month of April, which looked like it was going to be the end of me considering all the things I had to do. I actually read my blog more than once that day, and it calmed me down. The four weeks of April flew by, I'm still amazed that it's already May. It wasn't as painful as I thought it would be, because I took a step back and knew it was something I simply had to do, so there was no use stressing over it.
But sometimes, we need to take a step back from our own lives as well, and look at the even bigger picture. We cannot ignore national problems. Of course, we need to manage our own little lives and communities at first, but then we need to look at what is going on in the world around us.
Just a few days ago, gallons upon gallons of oil were accidentally spilled in the Gulf of Mexico. Some are saying it might be worse than the Exxon Valdez disaster in 1989. It's going to take months and months to clean it up, with the real damage being irreversible. Maybe we need to start thinking about how to help out, instead of being engrossed in our own little problems. Those problems probably aren't that big of a deal,but an oil spill is life-altering for people, communities, animals, and the environment as a whole. The least we can do is raise awareness that it actually happened, and get everyone else out of their shell and learn what is going on nationally.
Let us also be thankful for those who thwarted the potential car bomb in Times Square last week. Think about what would have happened if they had been too late...it's tough to picture, but we need to realize that the whole love thing I was talking about earlier isn't shared among all. In return, we as individuals and as a country can't lash out against the perpetrators, but in turn try to see their reasoning behind it and understand, and then make an effort at compromising beliefs. It might seem impossible, but it's been said before: Nothing is impossible with God.
So let's start loving one another, and hopefully those who don't have that love in their lives will watch Jesus' disciples turn the other cheek with pride and learn from that, and that maybe there is an alternative to fighting and violence. First let's do it in our own community, then expand it to the world.
By taking some small and then big steps, you might even surprise yourself.
If you're looking for the key to life, read that statement again. Then again, it might be easy to say, but surely it isn't the easiest thing to do. I'm not saying go and buy flowers and candy for someone who just beat you up or hurt you badly emotionally, I'm just saying that you may not like them, but they are one of God's children just like you and me. That's why you love them, because they are made out of God's image and likeness.
At the end of this Gospel, Jesus says, "That is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."
It's like those television commercials where people doing good deeds spreads, and gets passed on and on and on. Someone opens a door for someone, then that person helps someone pick up papers, then that person lets them use their pen. The little things. If someone sees you showing compassion even in the toughest of atmospheres, they'll definitely learn from that. It's quite common to be wrongly accused of doing something to someone.
Say your best friend thinks you intentionally are trying to sabotage a relationship with someone else, and screams at you for that. It's easy to give in and fight back, but Jesus wants us to take a deep breath, and discuss things like human beings. By having that love of each other in the front of our minds, respect for other's viewpoints and opinions grows. Then, conflict can actually be resolved without World War 3 happening in your living room. By doing that, God can actually see that you truly believe in his teachings.
This whole taking a breath thing is widely underrated and underused. A few weeks ago, I was blogging about the month of April, which looked like it was going to be the end of me considering all the things I had to do. I actually read my blog more than once that day, and it calmed me down. The four weeks of April flew by, I'm still amazed that it's already May. It wasn't as painful as I thought it would be, because I took a step back and knew it was something I simply had to do, so there was no use stressing over it.
But sometimes, we need to take a step back from our own lives as well, and look at the even bigger picture. We cannot ignore national problems. Of course, we need to manage our own little lives and communities at first, but then we need to look at what is going on in the world around us.
Just a few days ago, gallons upon gallons of oil were accidentally spilled in the Gulf of Mexico. Some are saying it might be worse than the Exxon Valdez disaster in 1989. It's going to take months and months to clean it up, with the real damage being irreversible. Maybe we need to start thinking about how to help out, instead of being engrossed in our own little problems. Those problems probably aren't that big of a deal,but an oil spill is life-altering for people, communities, animals, and the environment as a whole. The least we can do is raise awareness that it actually happened, and get everyone else out of their shell and learn what is going on nationally.
Let us also be thankful for those who thwarted the potential car bomb in Times Square last week. Think about what would have happened if they had been too late...it's tough to picture, but we need to realize that the whole love thing I was talking about earlier isn't shared among all. In return, we as individuals and as a country can't lash out against the perpetrators, but in turn try to see their reasoning behind it and understand, and then make an effort at compromising beliefs. It might seem impossible, but it's been said before: Nothing is impossible with God.
So let's start loving one another, and hopefully those who don't have that love in their lives will watch Jesus' disciples turn the other cheek with pride and learn from that, and that maybe there is an alternative to fighting and violence. First let's do it in our own community, then expand it to the world.
By taking some small and then big steps, you might even surprise yourself.
Monday, April 26, 2010
With the first pick...
Greetings from a rainy day in Ithaca, NY. Considering 70's are forecasted for the weekend, I'll take my fair share of dreary Mondays. Anyways, sports references galore these days...but they make sense, so why not?
The National Football League's 2010 Draft took place over the weekend, an exhibition on rating people, the analysis for the three draft days is endless. Teams and fans of those teams are reassured by the thought of getting better in just a matter of minutes.
So, maybe it's time to think about your own life. Evaluate what parts you need to improve and what parts are doing pretty well. All the NFL teams did that same thing this weekend. Some had a weak offense, so they drafted players who would help that aspect of the team. Others may have lost their quarterback in the offseason, so if they were smart, they drafted a quarterback.
How smart are you though? Are you going to make the right move at this point? If you're struggling at respecting yourself, why not go on a diet, or go for a run. Each gives you confidence, rounding out your lifestyle. Doing something like that in lieu of a bad habit is key as well.
But a draft is really about people helping you get better...it's kind of hard to just pick up self-respect out of thin air. We all need help from others. So, think about who in your life can help you in specific areas. Maybe you can pinpoint a friend who will help keep you on that diet and exercise, who motivates you more than you yourself can. A running partner, or someone to eat with. It helps.
Why not make list of people like that just like the NFL teams...I would include mine but it's a pretty exclusive and private list. My all time #1 pick though is Jesus, He probably should be yours, considering He knows how to fix all of our shortcomings himself, and often acts through the closest people in our lives to make us better. But seriously, write it down. Like in the NFL, you only have seven rounds, so choose wisely. It's amazing how you can turn out if you surround yourself with the right people.
Don't think you're just using them either, as each person affects each other in a different way. We each have an impact on those closest to us, just like they have one on us.
We are really all in this together, and it's a lot better relating to each other, than living life as a loner. Sure, being independent has its strong points, but there is a time and place for everything. Moderation is important in life...with one exception...God.
So, pretend like you're an NFL Team, and you have to pick the seven people that you care about the most, and can help make you a complete, wholesome, and happy human being. Then make those bonds stronger.
One last note on the rain...a good quote I've heard more than once in my life..."If you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain..."
The National Football League's 2010 Draft took place over the weekend, an exhibition on rating people, the analysis for the three draft days is endless. Teams and fans of those teams are reassured by the thought of getting better in just a matter of minutes.
So, maybe it's time to think about your own life. Evaluate what parts you need to improve and what parts are doing pretty well. All the NFL teams did that same thing this weekend. Some had a weak offense, so they drafted players who would help that aspect of the team. Others may have lost their quarterback in the offseason, so if they were smart, they drafted a quarterback.
How smart are you though? Are you going to make the right move at this point? If you're struggling at respecting yourself, why not go on a diet, or go for a run. Each gives you confidence, rounding out your lifestyle. Doing something like that in lieu of a bad habit is key as well.
But a draft is really about people helping you get better...it's kind of hard to just pick up self-respect out of thin air. We all need help from others. So, think about who in your life can help you in specific areas. Maybe you can pinpoint a friend who will help keep you on that diet and exercise, who motivates you more than you yourself can. A running partner, or someone to eat with. It helps.
Why not make list of people like that just like the NFL teams...I would include mine but it's a pretty exclusive and private list. My all time #1 pick though is Jesus, He probably should be yours, considering He knows how to fix all of our shortcomings himself, and often acts through the closest people in our lives to make us better. But seriously, write it down. Like in the NFL, you only have seven rounds, so choose wisely. It's amazing how you can turn out if you surround yourself with the right people.
Don't think you're just using them either, as each person affects each other in a different way. We each have an impact on those closest to us, just like they have one on us.
We are really all in this together, and it's a lot better relating to each other, than living life as a loner. Sure, being independent has its strong points, but there is a time and place for everything. Moderation is important in life...with one exception...God.
So, pretend like you're an NFL Team, and you have to pick the seven people that you care about the most, and can help make you a complete, wholesome, and happy human being. Then make those bonds stronger.
One last note on the rain...a good quote I've heard more than once in my life..."If you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain..."
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
21 Days Away
The golf world revealed another act of God this weekend, as rules were actually followed in a sport for once. We live in a day and age where cheating runs rampant in professional baseball, football, basketball, golf and hockey. It may be involving morals, or may just be trying to gain an edge physically. Performance enhancing drugs are mostly to blame for that. But in last weekend's Verizon Heritage golf tournament, golfer Brian Davis actually proved that winning just isn't the same if it's not done within the rules.
He had been battling with Jim Furyk all day, both at the top of the leader board. Furyk has been one of the better players on tour over the course of his career, winning multiple times. Davis though, was looking for his first-ever victory. After hitting the ball into a sand dune on the last hole, Davis had to play a pretty tricky shot to keep himself in contention. While he was bringing the club back in his swing, he just barely clipped a loose reed laying down in the sand. That is a rules violation in golf. Unseen by the naked eye, no one knew but Davis. Instead of letting it go unnoticed, the golfer called the penalty on himself, which was a two stroke violation, eliminating his chances of winning his first tournament.
Now ask yourself, would you do the same thing in that situation? That's putting honesty to the maximum, especially with a monetary value on the line. It's like telling a cashier they gave you too much change, or that you were graded too high on a test or paper. It takes a certain kind of person to go through life that way. Everyone wants to act that way, but it is pretty easy to take advantage of catching a break or two.
The question then is did you deserve that break? A lot of times, people feel entitled, like they deserved an award over someone else, or that they had money stolen from them so they deserved a couple extra dollars. The only ones who deserve anything are those who haven't sinned. Haven't seen anybody like that in 2000 years or so. Everyone else is on an even playing field. That's why hard work is required: To -earn- the good things in life. We might work our hardest, and things still might not work out. Once again, that's just a part of God's plan. We all learn something from working hard, no matter if we are successful or not. On the last hole, the win didn't matter to Davis, he knew that if he cheated his way to winning he wouldn't deserve the victory. Yet, he learned he can play pretty well by working hard. I bet, that in the next time he is in that position, he will indeed perform better, obviously learning from his mistake of the past.
Look at this week's Gospel. The apostles are once again out fishing, which they don't seem that great at considering their past endeavors. But once again, Jesus proves to be the difference. He tells them to put the net on the other side of the boat, where fish are abundant. Peter...who has made his fair share of mistakes in the past...jumps out of the boat into the water to get to shore where Jesus is. Don't quote me on this, but I'm pretty sure bathing suits were lacking those days, so envision Peter, drenched in heavy clothing, scurrying to meet Jesus on shore. Pretty solid act of faith there.
Sometimes, maybe we just need a little nudge in the right direction. I believe everyone truly is good at heart...just like Peter. Put your net on the other side of the boat. Change a bad habit into a good one. You've got to work at that too. The head Ithaca College football coach always says it takes 21 days to establish a habit, good or bad. That means I have to commit to standing on the correct spot on the field for that amount of days, or else I'll always be in the wrong place.
Think of how being focused on doing something good for three straight weeks will impact your life for the rest of the year. It's not that long, just 3 out of 52 weeks in a year. It may be hard at first, but by training yourself in a good way, you will start to earn things, instead of feeling like you just deserve to be rewarded. Maybe start that 21 day process by simply switching those two words in your life. Catch and stop yourself when you think about entitlement, and insert the word earn and hard work into your everyday life. That will cut down on laziness that each and every one of us has.
As I said above, Davis trained himself to act and think in a honest way. He had all the incentive in the world to keep his mouth shut, yet his good habit said that wasn't an option. Peter had some bad habits at times, but he trained himself to recognize God and believe in Him.
Let's start some of those 21 day cycles right now.
He had been battling with Jim Furyk all day, both at the top of the leader board. Furyk has been one of the better players on tour over the course of his career, winning multiple times. Davis though, was looking for his first-ever victory. After hitting the ball into a sand dune on the last hole, Davis had to play a pretty tricky shot to keep himself in contention. While he was bringing the club back in his swing, he just barely clipped a loose reed laying down in the sand. That is a rules violation in golf. Unseen by the naked eye, no one knew but Davis. Instead of letting it go unnoticed, the golfer called the penalty on himself, which was a two stroke violation, eliminating his chances of winning his first tournament.
Now ask yourself, would you do the same thing in that situation? That's putting honesty to the maximum, especially with a monetary value on the line. It's like telling a cashier they gave you too much change, or that you were graded too high on a test or paper. It takes a certain kind of person to go through life that way. Everyone wants to act that way, but it is pretty easy to take advantage of catching a break or two.
The question then is did you deserve that break? A lot of times, people feel entitled, like they deserved an award over someone else, or that they had money stolen from them so they deserved a couple extra dollars. The only ones who deserve anything are those who haven't sinned. Haven't seen anybody like that in 2000 years or so. Everyone else is on an even playing field. That's why hard work is required: To -earn- the good things in life. We might work our hardest, and things still might not work out. Once again, that's just a part of God's plan. We all learn something from working hard, no matter if we are successful or not. On the last hole, the win didn't matter to Davis, he knew that if he cheated his way to winning he wouldn't deserve the victory. Yet, he learned he can play pretty well by working hard. I bet, that in the next time he is in that position, he will indeed perform better, obviously learning from his mistake of the past.
Look at this week's Gospel. The apostles are once again out fishing, which they don't seem that great at considering their past endeavors. But once again, Jesus proves to be the difference. He tells them to put the net on the other side of the boat, where fish are abundant. Peter...who has made his fair share of mistakes in the past...jumps out of the boat into the water to get to shore where Jesus is. Don't quote me on this, but I'm pretty sure bathing suits were lacking those days, so envision Peter, drenched in heavy clothing, scurrying to meet Jesus on shore. Pretty solid act of faith there.
Sometimes, maybe we just need a little nudge in the right direction. I believe everyone truly is good at heart...just like Peter. Put your net on the other side of the boat. Change a bad habit into a good one. You've got to work at that too. The head Ithaca College football coach always says it takes 21 days to establish a habit, good or bad. That means I have to commit to standing on the correct spot on the field for that amount of days, or else I'll always be in the wrong place.
Think of how being focused on doing something good for three straight weeks will impact your life for the rest of the year. It's not that long, just 3 out of 52 weeks in a year. It may be hard at first, but by training yourself in a good way, you will start to earn things, instead of feeling like you just deserve to be rewarded. Maybe start that 21 day process by simply switching those two words in your life. Catch and stop yourself when you think about entitlement, and insert the word earn and hard work into your everyday life. That will cut down on laziness that each and every one of us has.
As I said above, Davis trained himself to act and think in a honest way. He had all the incentive in the world to keep his mouth shut, yet his good habit said that wasn't an option. Peter had some bad habits at times, but he trained himself to recognize God and believe in Him.
Let's start some of those 21 day cycles right now.
Monday, April 12, 2010
Faith Be With You
The week after Easter Sunday always features the classic Gospel of Jesus appearing before the apostles for the first time. It's the story of Thomas doubting the fact that Jesus rose from the dead. We hear it every year, and it's kind of the cornerstone story when it comes to faith.
We live with so many doubts in our daily lives. All of the time Catholics question their very own beliefs too. They say, "How do I know Jesus rose from the dead?" or "How can I be sure there even is a God?" That's why faith is a cool thing. It's believing in something that isn't even there.
Look at Santa Claus. There is nothing like the innocence of a child right? They often have more faith about something as trivial as a man in a big red suit than adults have about their Creator. The kids don't need to see Santa Claus to believe in him, they just know he is there. Faith is knowing that God is there, and believing in every part of Him and everything He did and will do.
Yet, God knows that we are sinners, and that we have transgressions and times of doubt just like Thomas...as we are human after all. We may strive for perfection, but that probably won't happen for us anytime soon. As always, God forgives us. Sometimes, he even rewards us for still believing.
The Masters Golf Tournament took place this past weekend, and it is basically the Super Bowl for professional golf. It takes place on the most prestigious course with the best competition of the season. Yet, this year, instead of talk of course changes to Augusta National or whether someone was playing really well, everyone was focused on one thing...Tiger Woods. The star of the sport had been missing for months after his sex scandal where he cheated on his wife with multiple women. Before that, besides some on course blowups, Woods' image was squeaky clean. A great role model. But after story after story came out about his transgressions, it was hard to believe in any "good guy" in sports again. My faith was shaken, and it was hard to trust other stars in sports. But I still thought...everyone can't be like this right?
Myself and fans everywhere were rewarded for thoughts like that. Woods didn't win the tournament, but the softer, rounder lefty Phil Mickleson was victorious. After Phil's wife and mother were both diagnosed with cancer in the last year, his appearance at Augusta should've been the highest billing. Fittingly though, he triumphed at the end, a heartwarming story that made even the coldest of people beam with pride for the man. Unlike his competitor Woods, he couldn't control the distractions of his family life, but was able to focus anyways. All in all, it was refreshing to witness that performance. God showed me that good guys do exist, and can do well in the harshest of environments.
He obviously rewarded the apostles' years of following Jesus and their faith, though shaken, that He would return. God only wanted us to learn from what happened to Him. In his second appearance, He knew Thomas doubted his presence, but instead of making a scene, He simply said...Peace Be With You.
That should be a reassuring thought, that instead of fighting over trivial matters, just admit when we are wrong and there won't be a need for drama or conflict. It might make your life a bit simpler. Then again, Jesus wants us to bring that Peace wherever we go. What does this word Peace mean anyways? Think for a second what it means to you.
You might think of world peace...something Miss America might say, or the word might make you think of saying peace in Mass, or even a "piece" of pie. There's nothing wrong with any of that. World peace might seem unattainable from your position, but you do have a role. On the football field, everyone has a role. If I'm a blocker I better block my man or else my teammate is going to fail. Even if I'm the last guy off the bench, it's my job to practice hard and cheer for my teammates so that they get better. I have an impact no matter what. As a person in this world, you have an impact just like that. No matter how small it is, you have one. Let's just keep that in mind. The signs for being environmentally friendly are everywhere...just listen to some Michael Jackson and it's not that hard to figure out.
Right now, in these times where the economy is doubted and people are shouting that the world needs to be cleaned up, we once again need faith. If we aren't sure about it, God will forgive us. And if we have that knowing innocence of a child, we will be rewarded with peace and justice.
First though, we need to believe in God just because we can. We don't need proof, we don't need primary or secondary sources...we just know. Then, the rest will fall into place.
We live with so many doubts in our daily lives. All of the time Catholics question their very own beliefs too. They say, "How do I know Jesus rose from the dead?" or "How can I be sure there even is a God?" That's why faith is a cool thing. It's believing in something that isn't even there.
Look at Santa Claus. There is nothing like the innocence of a child right? They often have more faith about something as trivial as a man in a big red suit than adults have about their Creator. The kids don't need to see Santa Claus to believe in him, they just know he is there. Faith is knowing that God is there, and believing in every part of Him and everything He did and will do.
Yet, God knows that we are sinners, and that we have transgressions and times of doubt just like Thomas...as we are human after all. We may strive for perfection, but that probably won't happen for us anytime soon. As always, God forgives us. Sometimes, he even rewards us for still believing.
The Masters Golf Tournament took place this past weekend, and it is basically the Super Bowl for professional golf. It takes place on the most prestigious course with the best competition of the season. Yet, this year, instead of talk of course changes to Augusta National or whether someone was playing really well, everyone was focused on one thing...Tiger Woods. The star of the sport had been missing for months after his sex scandal where he cheated on his wife with multiple women. Before that, besides some on course blowups, Woods' image was squeaky clean. A great role model. But after story after story came out about his transgressions, it was hard to believe in any "good guy" in sports again. My faith was shaken, and it was hard to trust other stars in sports. But I still thought...everyone can't be like this right?
Myself and fans everywhere were rewarded for thoughts like that. Woods didn't win the tournament, but the softer, rounder lefty Phil Mickleson was victorious. After Phil's wife and mother were both diagnosed with cancer in the last year, his appearance at Augusta should've been the highest billing. Fittingly though, he triumphed at the end, a heartwarming story that made even the coldest of people beam with pride for the man. Unlike his competitor Woods, he couldn't control the distractions of his family life, but was able to focus anyways. All in all, it was refreshing to witness that performance. God showed me that good guys do exist, and can do well in the harshest of environments.
He obviously rewarded the apostles' years of following Jesus and their faith, though shaken, that He would return. God only wanted us to learn from what happened to Him. In his second appearance, He knew Thomas doubted his presence, but instead of making a scene, He simply said...Peace Be With You.
That should be a reassuring thought, that instead of fighting over trivial matters, just admit when we are wrong and there won't be a need for drama or conflict. It might make your life a bit simpler. Then again, Jesus wants us to bring that Peace wherever we go. What does this word Peace mean anyways? Think for a second what it means to you.
You might think of world peace...something Miss America might say, or the word might make you think of saying peace in Mass, or even a "piece" of pie. There's nothing wrong with any of that. World peace might seem unattainable from your position, but you do have a role. On the football field, everyone has a role. If I'm a blocker I better block my man or else my teammate is going to fail. Even if I'm the last guy off the bench, it's my job to practice hard and cheer for my teammates so that they get better. I have an impact no matter what. As a person in this world, you have an impact just like that. No matter how small it is, you have one. Let's just keep that in mind. The signs for being environmentally friendly are everywhere...just listen to some Michael Jackson and it's not that hard to figure out.
Right now, in these times where the economy is doubted and people are shouting that the world needs to be cleaned up, we once again need faith. If we aren't sure about it, God will forgive us. And if we have that knowing innocence of a child, we will be rewarded with peace and justice.
First though, we need to believe in God just because we can. We don't need proof, we don't need primary or secondary sources...we just know. Then, the rest will fall into place.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
