Slow Down Just A Little

Because I travel so often, and because I book travel just as often, and because Google is Google, they know the things that I search for. For every one Catholic or religious article that Google suggests, I get one that is related to travel, usually flying. And I have to say that I am a sucker for clickbait. So when there’s a good headline, I tend to click on it.

So I fall for it, I click on this article, it’s a travel article on a business website, and the article is fine, but then I get to the last part and the writer makes a profound observation.

"In a world that spins ever faster, with seemingly no real purpose other than money-making, might it be an idea for airlines and aircraft manufacturers - and regulators - to slow down just a little, so that when a new plane is finally put into service it's truly ready?"

Now, the writer is talking about airlines and money and safety, but also about customer service and satisfaction, perhaps even about corporate greed or the golden rule. But for our purposes, I want to pause and ask that same question about our faith in a broad sense. “In a world that spins ever faster, with seemingly no real purpose other than money-making, might it be an idea for us to slow down just a little, so that we can actually discover the path God has for us?” In other words, what motivates us?
  Ultimately we could say that God is who motivates us. Some of us might want to recite the Nicene Creed at this point. I believe in one God... And say, 'that is what motivates me, pursuing the truth, the person of Christ, and not just pursuing, but wanting to know him and grow in friendship with him, eventually, being face to face with God in heaven.' We know the end. So what is stopping us?

What is stopping me from being a better Dominican friar, a better priest, a better brother and son? I could go broad - it’s original sin that is stopping me or at least tripping me up. But to be more specific, what stops me is me. If God is what is motivating me, what is driving me, then he isn’t the one who is failing or lazy or distracted, it's me.

A business has a mission statement, a purpose. But what gets in the way? Money, profits? What is my purpose? The base answer is to know and love God. [Baltimore Catechism / Catechism of the Catholic Church] What gets in the way? Needing money to buy the newest device, feeding the addiction to _____ , or laziness?

Our vocation - the way God has given us to know him and love him - is not guaranteed to be easy. What the Church and the world needs are men that are willing to say yes to their vocation as sons, brothers, and fathers - biological as well as spiritual. One feeds the other. Fear is often what keeps us from going further in responding to God’s call. Might it be an idea for us to slow down just a little, so that we can contemplate the path God has for us?
 

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Take the next step in your discernment. Contact Fr. Francis, O.P. for more information or with questions.