Where’s the Flashlight?
theophilus December 4th, 2008
As we wade into Advent and I feel the need to defend why we should “keep Christ in Christmas,” I continue to be struck by how far we have come in striking our faith from our day-to-day existence. Too many don’t want to integrate their faith with their lives.
I can’t imagine not going through each day without trying to have a conversation with God, trying to follow Christ, trying to ensure that my faith permeates everything I do and say. I am unsuccessful too often, but at least I start off each day with good intentions.
I used to not be that way. I used to not try. At most, I used to fit God into my life instead of conforming my life to God’s will.
But today, I can’t imagine not even trying to live my life for God.
And that’s what bewilders me about some men. For some, religion has no meaning in their lives. For others, their faith is fitted in nicely with the other things in their lives but isn’t a controlling force in what they do. And still others have just lost faith in the Church in which they grew up.
And the thing is; there are many men who are good, decent, loving people, even if they shy away from their faith; who walk a good path, even if they don’t realize that they are walking with Christ.
Too many people say the right things but don’t walk the walk. Others walk the walk but don’t fully commit themselves to Christ. And I guess we need Catholic men who will do both.
We are in a world and culture where men are walking around lost, with no compass. They need to see men that not only do the right thing, but can tell others that the reason they do the right thing is because Christ is working in them; and they themselves are committed to being a man for Christ. They need to have role models that show them that Christ expects each of us to follow him 24/7, whether in our families, our workplace, or our social lives.
Being a good man doesn’t happen in a vacuum; it doesn’t happen save for Christ working in our lives, even if we won’t admit it.
And these type of men; those who walk the walk but don’t want to acknowledge why; I believe the Holy Spirit is working in each of these men’s lives. They may not know it; they may not understand it; they may not acknowledge it. But the Holy Spirit is there. I’ve seen it in a lot of them.
I’ve been thinking a great deal about darkness. I like daylight; and this leaving for work and getting home while it is dark gets old for me real fast. In the same sense, I also need the light of Christ to get me through the day. I used to wander around in the dark and I can’t imagine going back to those times, even if I do come dangerously close at times.
But what’s worse? Knowing that you are in danger of plunging back into the darkness; or being in the darkness, not even knowing you are there, and not really having a need to get out?
And then maybe there is this possibility; maybe it’s just that these men of whom I speak are not in the darkness after all.
I guess it’s just up to each of us to determine whether we walk in the light;and if not, what we need to do to get there. And it’s up to each of us to ensure that we are not deceiving ourselves into thinking we are walking in the light if we are really stumbling around in the dark. The Holy Spirit will tell us if we ask him.
Now, where did I put that flashlight; just in case.
