Reflecting: how much is too much?

A few weeks ago, I came across this story by the Boston Herald. As most of you know, I'm an avid Red Sox fan. Our closer (the pitcher who tries to seal a victory at the end of the game), Jonathan Papelbon, had a poor season last year. He allowed more runs than usual, allowed more men to get on base, and gave up more home runs than he had in past years. Because of his off year in 2010, speculation has been running wild about whether he will be traded or not. 


Here's a link to the official story: http://www.bostonherald.com/blogs/sports/red_sox/index.php/2011/02/13/papelbon-wont-dwell-on-offseason/


College is a time that shapes your life. The habits we form during these critical four years stay with us for the rest of our lives. They affect us and those around us. Thus, we can spend a lot of time reflecting on the future. What job am I going to get? What is my vocation? Where does God want me to be? Who does He want me to reach out to? All these questions and many more can dominate our thoughts, and lead to prayerful reflection.


As the Herald reports, Papelbon is obviously worried about losing his job with the Red Sox. He says: "Is it human nature to think about those things? Of course it’s human nature... But to sit there and dwell on it and wonder is this going to happen, is that going to happen, I don’t think that will be the case.”

Though that last phrase is a little awkward, what Paps is getting at is that allowing worry about the future to affect our spiritual, academic, or physical performance is counterproductive. It is good, and even fruitful, to reflect on God's plan for our lives. Discerning His will is important and necessary. However, sometimes too much reflecting can impede our progress toward our full potential. We can constantly be thinking of the path God has laid before us (which isn't a bad thing). But this can, at times, distract us from our daily duties and obligations. Sometimes we need to put our lives in God's hands and just go out and live. In the words of Padre Pio, "Pray, hope, and don't worry."

I'll close with Papelbon's words:

"It’s part of the game [to worry about the future]. I just try to stay focused on getting myself prepared to pitch and be the best I can be and come back this year and have a better season than I did last year and get back to proving to everyone what kind of closer I am.”

The Final Goal

“Call no man happy before his death, for by how he ends, a man is known.” (Sir 11:28)


Death.


It’s something that we all must face eventually.


It’s something that we all have in common.


And it’s something we all must accept.


Too often our focus can be only on this life. But what happens when we die? Where do we go?


By keeping our end in mind, where we are heading, we can focus on what is most important: eternal happiness with God. Fr. Richards has some good questions for reflection, and I will mention a few here.


What will I accomplish with my short time on earth?


Will I be a person who gave more than I took?


What do I want people to say about me once I’ve taken my last breath?


Death is out of our control. As men, we like to be able to determine the outcome. But nothing is stopping us from dying this very moment! If God we to so much as not think about us for one second, we would be dead. This is a humbling thought.


Herod the Great was a powerful king. He ruled from 37 to 4 B.C. over a great province, and had countless people at his beck and call. He commissioned the construction of many magnificent buildings in Jerusalem. He had immense riches, and every pleasure imaginable. Then he heard of a little child coming to Bethlehem, who was supposed to be a king. Angry that someone had come along to upset his comfortable and prestigious lifestyle, Herod ordered the child to be murdered. We can sometimes be similar to Herod. We wish to be king, in charge. We don’t want a small baby stealing our throne.


Yet Christ calls use to be like a child (see Matthew 19). He urges us not to be proud and pompous, but to be meek and humble. This is a hard challenge, but it is one that we must face if we are to be Men of Christ. Putting aside our pride, we must ask Christ, “What do you wish me to do?”






During this joyous Christmas season, I offer you this challenge: shouldn’t Jesus get presents on his birthday? We do. Ask Christ what you can give him on his birthday this year. As Maximus put it in the movie Gladiator, “What we do in life echoes in eternity.” Life is short. Make the most of it!