For Love of the Game

Last week, my wife and I were riding in the car, and we began talking about the sports we use to play growing up. I don't know how we got on the subject but it is always fun to reminisce, isn't it? As I talked to my wife about the "glory days", I talked about how I would pride myself on the injuries I sustained while playing sports I loved. Bruises, strains, sprains, and even broken bones were received like a badge of honor in my book; the greater the pain the greater the honor. It was all worth it for the love of the game.

Once we were home, and long after that conversation ended, I started thinking about all that I had put myself through for the sports I played: the vigorous workout schedules, broken bones, blood, and tears; I had to ask myself, "what do I have to show for it?" Yes, I have some great stories and memories, some trophies that are collecting dust somewhere, and some friends from teams of old that I still keep in touch with, but, I am not making a living playing those sports that I spent hours and hours working on every week; and those sports don't play a major part in my daily life anymore, if any part at all.

After that realization, I then turned to an even tougher question: "Compared to sports, how much effort have I put into my faith?" The answer scared me. I have wrecked myself for a game, but could I do the same for Christ?

Somehow people have come to believe that Christianity is a simple thing and takes very little effort on our part. Just be nice. Smile. Go to Church and you should be good, right? I know I grew up with that philosophy when it came to how I approached my relationship with God. However, that is not the case at all. To follow Christ is challenging. It is radical and counter-cultural. Following Christ will lead to immense joy and peace of course, but it also leads to hardship and persecution. This shouldn't be a shock to anyone, Jesus said it himself when he declared, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me" (Lk 9 23).

When we are challenged on behalf of our faith will we give up because things get too tough, or will we push on through the opposition?

Could we stand as faithful Christians even when those around us are pressuring us to do otherwise?

Can we accept struggles, sufferings, or humiliations for the faith, knowing that Christ suffered for us on the cross first?

Lastly, we cannot forget the hopeful message the Jesus preached: "Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great" (Mt 5:11-12). The difficulties that we face in this world will not be forgotten. And I used to think the scars my friends and I I got from playing sports were cool; I can't wait to see the reward that awaits us when I reach the pearly gates.

Clean & Clear

My wife and I have had a hectic couple weeks to say the least; retreats, birthday parties, more retreats, doctor appointments, the list goes on and on. Things have been an absolute blur. Luckily, we survived the worst of it. However, in the craziness of this month's schedule, we have neglected some of our typical household chores. Let me take this opportunity to openly admit that I am not what some would call, "a tidy person". I try. I really do try. Peculiarly, I enjoy when my desk, apartment, life is clean and in order - I function better when things are organized. Yet, somehow, I always manage to leave some mess, blotch, smudge or stain behind wherever I go. Luckily, my wife is a whiz when it comes to cleaning - she is also a saint for being patient with me as I learn to tidy up after myself.

Typically, a muddled apartment wouldn't be a major ordeal. We would clean the house little by little over a couple days because of our busy lifestyle. A little vacuuming, dusting, & washing here and there would take care of the job. However, my wife and I made plans a couple weeks ago to have some friends over for dinner tonight. My wife is at work. Today is my day off. The cleaning is up too me, and I have a time limit. A recipe for disaster!

As I look around my messy apartment in preparation for the overhaul, I can't believe that I let things get so cluttered. Yes, I was busy, but was I this busy? This situation sadly reminds me of my spiritual life at times.

It is so easy to allow my prayer life to get neglected when things get frenzied. In the busyness of the day it always seems like my prayer time is put on the back burner. It is never my primary intention to put prayer low on my totem pole of things to accomplish but I let other things take priority. For some reason in the moment it always seems like it is more urgent to reply to those work emails that need to be sent out, or to run the errands that I have been putting off for so long than it is to sit down and talk with my God for a bit.

The crazy thing is, when I don't pray things start to really get messy in my life. The stress builds up. Frustrations get the better of me. My peace slowly turns into anxiety. And I am guessing the same is true for you. I don't know what your prayer life is like but if it is anything like my maltreated, ignored apartment. It's time to tidy up. Prayer is an absolute essential if we hope to live an authentic Christian life. It is what fuels us, revives us & sustains us. With daily prayer, God's grace can carry us through the toughest situations; without it, life gets cluttered & chaotic.

God wants us to come to him in prayer. He wants to hear from us. And we desire Him. The Catholic Church teaches "that we need the will to pray" (CCC 2650). Yes. Our lives can get busy. Yes. Sometimes life is frantic. And Yes, sometimes the to-do list seems endless. But in the midst of all that, can we allow our personal prayer time, even if just 5 or 10 minutes, to be totally ignored, or will we find the time to pray? That question is for you to answer.

Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me. He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne (Rev 3:20-1).

I have some cleaning to do.

Revival

I have been blogging now for the past couple of months and I just realized that I never explained why I picked "For the Revival" to be the title of this page. To be honest, I didn't spend much time thinking of the perfect name for my blog. I actually just wrote it down without much thought - practically an accident. However, after coming up with the title, it has stuck with me. I've thought a lot about my "accidental" title; I've prayed with it. And I am confident that a revival is needed.

I know that there are many amazing, holy Catholics & Christians out there who are doing everything they can to proclaim the saving message of Jesus Christ. But for many of us, we lack that same zeal and gusto. We are completely content going to mass or service on Sunday and saying some prayers as we fall a sleep each night if we can remember...or stay awake.

For a long time I was afraid to know what God wanted me to do for Him. I was cool with my little routine. "I'll see you on Sunday, Jesus." That was my motto when it came to me and my faith. I would give God one hour on Sunday and if that mass went long for any reason God would owe me big time. Or at least that is how I thought. Even back then, I knew God wanted more from me, but I was afraid with what He may ask me to do.

What if He asked me to become friends with that kid at school no one liked?
What if He asked me to sell all my possessions and give them to the poor?
What if He asked me to go to some distant land where I don't know anyone?

Questions like these constantly found their way into my head. That is until I came across John 10:10, possibly one of the most famous lines from Scripture of all time, "I have come that you might have life and have it to the fullest." When I came across this verse I realized I wasn't truly alive, but I wasn't really dead either. I was caught in this in-between, luke warm state of life; spiritually, I was pretty lifeless. And I think many of us have been (or are still) in that place. We go through the motions. We do the bare minimum so we don't feel guilty, and then, we move on with our lives, then repeat as needed. Is that really any way to live?

In a lot of ways I am still trying to figure all this out myself. I'm no walking saint, but I am a work-in-progress. But it is time that we allow God to revive our hearts & open our eyes to His love and glory. I can't say how God may call you to live for him today, but I can promise you that He is calling. It could be to a deeper prayer life. It could be to a more radical form of love. It could be to move to Haiti and serve the poor. I have no idea. Whatever it is, it is for you and God to discuss.

I believe a revival is happening. The question is: Do you want to be a part of it?

"I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing!" (Lk 12:49).