I have lived in the world for almost twenty years, and yet each new day never fails to surprise me. Sometimes the new day surprises me with good things -- a remarkably beautiful sunset, the revelation of a friend's love, a tasty dinner (especially if I made it!), or even just the realization of all the blessings in my life. But sometimes the day holds bad surprises.
This has become increasingly more shocking to me in what I read in the morning paper, or what I come across on an Internet article, or what I watch on a YouTube video. Humanity of course is flawed, but our culture bluntly reminds me of this fact every day. Here I read about the murder of a Catholic priest in Syria by rebels who have received weapons from the USA. There I watch a hate-filled video where ever more vindictive gay rights supporters attempt to turn people further from the truth. Elsewhere I read about the horrible pro-choice protests going on in Texas, people shouting and cursing and making no sort of peaceful protest. There are women there with tattoos all over their bodies and faces twisted into ugly yells. There are young girls there holding disgusting and blasphemous signs about God, trying to "shock" whoever sees into listening to them. Well, sister, it worked. But the only shock I'm receiving is that such foul language is coming out of your mouth. (May I add also that I am reading about the vileness of these protests only through LifeSite News and other pro-life websites; the mainstream media does not deign to portray any of the evil that is happening at these protests.)
Now, I have a choice here: I could either see all these evil things, these dark surprises, and say, "Where is God?" and sink into depression and bitterness. Or I could say, "Well, that's it for humanity", become a hermit, and live a life of seclusion. Or I could pray over and over and over, "Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." Which do you think is the best choice?
I'll admit that the first two are tempting. I've had my share of both. There have been times when I've sunk into depression and frustration, when I've wanted to glare at the heavens and ask what the point of it all is. And I always need my quiet time, my space, my solace. But I should neither rebel nor run away. My God-given job as a Catholic is to stand and fight: not with violence, but with patience.
The quirk about patience is that you have to share it with yourself before you can truly give it to the world. It's just like love -- "love your neighbor as yourself". St. Francis de Sales says in his Introduction to the Devout Life (and I paraphrase), "To have patience is to possess one's soul." We have to understand that holiness is a lifelong practice; sometimes just taking the first step towards God comes only at the last step of life. But this is why the Church calls the spiritual life a journey.
We are all on a journey together -- the Christians and the atheists, the homosexuals and the heterosexuals, the pro-lifers and the pro-choicers, the liberals and the conservatives. We are often radically opposed, and I can't say that I love the gay rights supporters or the pro-abortionists very much yet. But I do know one thing we have in common: "all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God". It's just that we Christians have been given the gift of truth, and it is our job to share it. I must only be patient with myself and my own failings, so that others can do the same.
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