Trust in God: Reflecting on the Past, Looking to the Future
When I started writing this reflection last night, I couldn’t help but think about how little time we have left here at Strake. We have only a handful of days left as seniors, and we graduate in less than a month. Right now, we’re in the final stage of a major section of our lives, and we’re about to go off into the world to forge our own paths. For me, it seems that time is distorted: I feel like it's been ages since I was a freshman, yet it’s only been a few weeks since the beginning of this year. I want you all to look back on your past years in high school, and to picture your younger self. See if you can remember what you thought, felt, or did as a freshman, sophomore, or junior. What were your fears? Expectations? Dreams? Take a moment and immerse yourself in the memories of your past self.
Reflecting back on the thoughts of my younger self, I can see how much I’ve grown over the years. I can see my past flaws, mistakes, and tension points as I’ve progressed though high school. Take a moment to think about those years. How has your life played out in comparison to the expectations of your past self? Did things go according to plan? What opportunities or events have happened that have altered the course of your life?
Looking back at my experiences, I can see how God, working through the people and world around me, has somehow managed to direct me as I’ve tried to navigate life. Sometimes it doesn’t seem obvious, but if we look back at past events in our lives, we can occasionally see how divine providence has played a role in altering the course of our future. Take this class, for instance. As an underclassman, I never would have believed you if you had told me that I was going to have an amazing class called “Saints for Sinners” where we would get to go to Rome and learn about pilgrims and discuss theology. Yet here we are. In fact, I almost forgot to turn in the application for this class- I was on a train in Alaska in the middle of the wilderness when I somehow remembered that I had to write an essay to turn in to apply for the class. I didn’t want to, yet I felt that it was God’s will to at least try to finish it. I’m sure in your lives, there have been times when you didn’t want to do something, yet you did it anyway. And the result paid you back many times over in ways you never imagined.
This is why we should surrender to God’s will. By putting His will above our own, we allow Him to direct us to achieving His will and happiness. Surrendering our will isn’t easy, yet it will pay us back many times over. We will get to unite our will to God’s, allowing us to be fully present and to enjoy what life brings us.
I want you all to close your eyes and picture yourself four years from now. What university are you graduating from? What career are you pursuing? What friends have you made? What are your dreams and aspirations? Are you seeking marriage? Pursuing the priesthood? Maybe still married?
Now, I want you to remember your past self- perhaps the naive freshman, or the “wise-fool sophomore,” or maybe the stressed junior. Remember the expectations of your past self, and see how different your life actually turned out to be. Now, look forward to your vision of your future self. How certain are you about this vision now? What about this vision do you like? Consider this: Does this vision take into account God’s will? Does your plan fully embrace God’s will, or does it have some remnants of your own will? Take a moment and reflect on how much you trust God with your future. Have you truly surrendered your will?
Look at your plan for the future: Are you doing what God wants you to do? Or more bluntly put: What does God want you to do? Take a moment and reflect on how the future falls in line with the will of God. Have you tried to discern what He wants you to do?
Looking ahead, we need to think about what vocation God calls us to. Look at your vision for the future: What do think you are called to be? Is this expectation free of your will and in line with God’s will? How can I surrender my will and be able to discern what God calls me to be?
Now, review all the memories and imaginations we have been looking at. Have you pursued holiness in your past? What obstacles have their been to achieving holiness? How can I surrender my will and put God’s will above me in the future?
Reflecting back on the thoughts of my younger self, I can see how much I’ve grown over the years. I can see my past flaws, mistakes, and tension points as I’ve progressed though high school. Take a moment to think about those years. How has your life played out in comparison to the expectations of your past self? Did things go according to plan? What opportunities or events have happened that have altered the course of your life?
Looking back at my experiences, I can see how God, working through the people and world around me, has somehow managed to direct me as I’ve tried to navigate life. Sometimes it doesn’t seem obvious, but if we look back at past events in our lives, we can occasionally see how divine providence has played a role in altering the course of our future. Take this class, for instance. As an underclassman, I never would have believed you if you had told me that I was going to have an amazing class called “Saints for Sinners” where we would get to go to Rome and learn about pilgrims and discuss theology. Yet here we are. In fact, I almost forgot to turn in the application for this class- I was on a train in Alaska in the middle of the wilderness when I somehow remembered that I had to write an essay to turn in to apply for the class. I didn’t want to, yet I felt that it was God’s will to at least try to finish it. I’m sure in your lives, there have been times when you didn’t want to do something, yet you did it anyway. And the result paid you back many times over in ways you never imagined.
This is why we should surrender to God’s will. By putting His will above our own, we allow Him to direct us to achieving His will and happiness. Surrendering our will isn’t easy, yet it will pay us back many times over. We will get to unite our will to God’s, allowing us to be fully present and to enjoy what life brings us.
I want you all to close your eyes and picture yourself four years from now. What university are you graduating from? What career are you pursuing? What friends have you made? What are your dreams and aspirations? Are you seeking marriage? Pursuing the priesthood? Maybe still married?
Now, I want you to remember your past self- perhaps the naive freshman, or the “wise-fool sophomore,” or maybe the stressed junior. Remember the expectations of your past self, and see how different your life actually turned out to be. Now, look forward to your vision of your future self. How certain are you about this vision now? What about this vision do you like? Consider this: Does this vision take into account God’s will? Does your plan fully embrace God’s will, or does it have some remnants of your own will? Take a moment and reflect on how much you trust God with your future. Have you truly surrendered your will?
Look at your plan for the future: Are you doing what God wants you to do? Or more bluntly put: What does God want you to do? Take a moment and reflect on how the future falls in line with the will of God. Have you tried to discern what He wants you to do?
Looking ahead, we need to think about what vocation God calls us to. Look at your vision for the future: What do think you are called to be? Is this expectation free of your will and in line with God’s will? How can I surrender my will and be able to discern what God calls me to be?
Now, review all the memories and imaginations we have been looking at. Have you pursued holiness in your past? What obstacles have their been to achieving holiness? How can I surrender my will and put God’s will above me in the future?
Comments
Post a Comment