Men's Rosary

Ever wonder how things happen as they do?  It is really something when you start to piece together, or rather understand, the pieces of life’s puzzle.  Too often we look at things as a product of our own ingenuity.  This is such a misunderstanding of the truth.  It is also a gross exemplification of pride.  God is in control of everything, whether we choose to acknowledge it or not.  It is our pride that causes us not to acknowledge this fact and pat ourselves on the back.  It is humility that brings us to the realization of God’s will in our lives.  Humility will save us while pride will destroy us.   “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.”  (Proverbs 16:18) 

Sometimes we see things that happen being lucky, being in the right place at the right time, knowing the right people, even worse; coincidences. There is no such thing as luck. Timing is important but we do not control it, and it is not random.  People are important and can be paths to opportunities, but they can create nothing for us. There really are no coincidences as the world would describe them.  Everything is of God, divine providence.  We are in control of our actions and should set goals and plan ahead.  But the architect of the master plan is God.  “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.”  (Proverbs 16:9) 

Too often, we can get caught up in the race to get things done.  We want to arrive at the place we determine we should be, as if we really know what is best for us!  Conversely, we are better off to slow down and place our aspirations in God’s hands and take the time to listen to what God has to say about them.  This is called discernment.  Running full throttle to achieve what we perceive to be our destiny while not taking time to sort out what God wants for us is unhealthy and leads to failure and unhappiness.  “It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor than to divide the spoil with the proud.”  (Proverbs 16:19) 

We can slow down.  There is no hurry!  It is important to reflect on our life, where we have been, where we are and where we may be going with God.  Patience is key here, which is a huge challenge for me!  God knows what is best for us so it makes sense that if we want the best for our lives and our families, we must listen to what God has to say in his own time.  “But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.  The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”  (2 Peter 3:8-9)  I have often told my children that as long as we are doing what we are supposed to be doing every day, no matter how bad the situation may seem, it will always work out.  I believe that the core of what we are to be doing is praying and submitting to God’s will.  We do this, and everything will work out all the time!  We are not part of a plan we have devised, rather we are all part of God’s plan.  “In God’s plan nothing happens by chance.”  (Pope St. John Paul II)

“Be who God meant you to be, and you will set the world on fire.”  St. Catherine of Siena