Open, discerning, focused

I IMAGINE that these are good traits to develop in life. You may have other and better ideas, but let me tell you why I say so.

With all the twists and turns in life, and with all the factors, conditionings and forces in play, many of them beyond our control, we just cannot help, if we want to save our sanity, at least, but to be open to everything, yet also discerning and focused so as not to get lost.

Our openness, which brings with it many other good qualities like being game and sporty, cheerful, confident and optimistic, should be based on the fundamental truth that whatever happens in life, God is always in control and he never wavers in his love for us. He knows what to do with anything that can happen in life, whether good or bad.

“All things have their season, and in their times all things pass under heaven…A time to be born and a time to die…A time to destroy, and a time to build…A time of love, and a time of hatred, “ the Book of Ecclesiastes tells us. So, let’s just take it easy, and not worry too much.

Our openness should lead us to develop a certain sense of abandonment in the hands of God, in his almighty, wise and merciful providence, so that we don’t get carried away by the mere and shallow workings of our emotions, estimations and understanding of things that often distort and warp things, if not miss the point completely.

Everything that happens in life, even those that are reeking with human malice and openly against God’s will, can always be made use of by God himself to generate a greater good. This is a core belief that should guide us especially in our low and difficult moments.

The parable of the prodigal son bears this out as well as many other parables in the gospel. The ultimate proof is the very passion and death of Christ which came as a result of man’s worst malice and from which Christ did not avoid—he was open to it—and yet all that led to his glorious resurrection and to our salvation.

We have to echo the same conviction that St. Paul once expressed: “We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose.” (Rom 8,28) The important thing is to keep our faith and love for God unmoved in spite of our sins and infidelities. There’s always hope!

That’s why while we have to be open to anything in life, let’s also be discerning and focused on Christ, on our faith, because this is the ultimate and constant guide we need amid the ebb and flow of time and life’s ups and downs.

In this the perfect model is Christ himself. He was open to everything and anything, even to the point of being betrayed by one very close to him, an apostle. He was open to the possibility of being misunderstood, persecuted and executed. He allowed human freedom to do whatever it wants to do with him.

Yet, in spite of all this openness, he was focused. He did not get lost. He knew how to take advantage of everything to be able to do the will of his Father. “I seek not my own will, but the will of him who sent me,” he said (Jn 5,30)

And he must have been discerning also, because in spite of all the hectic pace of his life, he managed to pray, to spend time with his apostles and friends, to attend to the requests of many individuals. “My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, that I may perfect his work.” (Jn 4,34) He knew exactly what he had to do.

We have to learn to reflect the life of Christ in our own lives. He is the very pattern of our life. There is no other, since as he said, he is “the way, the truth and the life.” (Jn 14,6)

Let’s develop the proper attitude and vision of our life by taking care of our daily routine. As we wake up everyday, let’s do a morning offering to remind ourselves that we need to serve God and offer the day the way God created the universe in the beginning—with all the love and goodness he could give.

Then as we go through the day, let’s reflect Christ’s life as he tackles all sorts of things but orienting them toward his passion, death and resurrection.