Little conquests lead to bigger ones

I BELIEVE this is a most relevant and urgent message we

can convey to the young ones of today. We cannot deny that many of our

youth, the so-called millennials, are trapped in a veritable bondage

of distractions. They may not be asking for it, but I believe they

actually need help in overcoming that predicament.

            Yes, distractions are sapping and wasting their energies

and creativity, and are setting them up for bigger falls and more

complicated problems. That is why we have an increasing number of

cases of youthful addictions that can lead to depression and mental

illness, and other anomalies like all kinds of vices and even suicide.

Evil, like goodness, also tends to spread and to grow worse.

            We have to help them. And one concrete way of helping them

is to tell them or remind or suggest to them, whichever is most

appropriate at a given moment, that making little daily conquests in

their spiritual struggles will protect them or properly arm them in

dealing with the bigger challenges that require harder struggles.

            The other day, I saw someone playing Soduku practically

the whole day. I could not help but think that the person was

completely under the game’s spell, preventing him from doing his other

chores and duties. I would not be surprised if his parents, teachers

and others would sooner or later complain about this.

            Now playing games, like Soduku, is not wrong as long as it

is done within the scheme of proper order in the day. We can only give

so much time for it, enough to provide us with some rest and to

refresh our mind so as to be in a good condition to return to our work

and other responsibilities. It should not keep us in some kind of a

fixed grip.

            What we can tell those in this kind of predicament is that

making little self-denials by setting clear limits in terms of time

and excitement in our games and other distractions would keep these

games a healthy and helpful form of rest.

            Besides, and I think this is a more important reason,

being able to make these little conquests will help us conquer the

bigger challenges and temptations in our life. I believe that if one

manages to say no to the temptation to extend playing Soduku ‘ad

infinitum,’ he most likely can manage also to say no when the very

tempting sting of the flesh comes his way.

            This assertion, of course, has basis on what Christ

himself said: “Whoever is faithful with very little will also be

faithful with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will

also be dishonest with much.” (Lk 16,10) I believe there is some

correlation between our ability to conquer in the little battles in

our spiritual life and that of winning in our major spiritual battles.

            We need to recover, especially today, that Christian

advice that we need to deny ourselves in certain things all the time

to be able to live our life properly. Yes, Christ said it very

clearly. “If anyone would come after me,” he said, “he must deny

himself and take up his cross and follow me.” (Mt 16,24)

            But even before telling someone about this piece of advice

from Christ, we have to transmit first the more basic advice of what

our real treasure should be and where it can be found.

            Christ said: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on

earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and

stead. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths

and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and

steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Mt

6,19-21)

            We need to help everyone feel the immediate and constant

need for God!