It’s been at least two months since I posted. I don’t know about you, but for me it’s really easy to go on autopilot and go through the motions of everyday life trying to reach my goals. I’m sure you’re familiar with the term “tunnel vision.”
Courtesy of Unsplash.com by Nathan Anderson
I often found myself so focused on writing or recording a weekly blog post, achieving my objectives for work, or completing my next personal project that I completely miss-out on reflecting on some important questions. So I took a step back to reflect.
I would like to share with you one big question that I often wrestle with. How do I live a life that is filled with joy and at the same time live in solidarity with the poor and suffering?
Why This Question?
I think it’s safe to assume two things:
1) Everyone strives to be joyful in life and
2) Most people would agree that suffering and poverty are objectively bad, but potentially can have some positive side effects. At a bare minimum I believe we all strive to balance selfishness and selflessness. How to balance the two is the tough question?
The Main Dilemma
As a Catholic Christian there are two ideals I hold to:
In John’s gospel Jesus says, “I came that they may have life and have it to the full” (John 10:10). Since starting a relationship with Jesus, with confidence I can affirm the truth of this statement. The last five years have been the most joyful years of my life. Not the easiest. In fact far from it. But certainly the most joyful. It started with a single surrender in Rio de Janeiro Brazil that has led to discovering my career path, finding a job to support my family, meeting my wife, and the arrival of our beautiful daughter.
There certainly has been sad moments and ones of uncertainty, but somehow my confidence and joy that I gained from my relationship with Jesus has pulled me through.
Living for the “Least of These”
The second ideal that I strive to live out is to live in solidarity with those who are experiencing any form of suffering. In the most famous sermon in history Jesus preached: “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40). For Christians to serve and love the less fortunate is not an option. It’s a fundamental principle.
So how do we live life to the full and live in solidarity with the poor at the same time? If you’ve read any of my past posts you’ll know about my affinity for the less fortunate. I had the opportunity to serve in developing communities in Latin America, serve the homeless on the streets of Toronto, and recently accompanying those who are facing terminal illnesses.
I cherish these moments in my life. Encounters with the suffering are refreshing and can weigh on my heart at the same time. Refreshing because when someone is facing life altering suffering there is no place for the superficiality. The conversations I’ve had are real. No cynicism, no sarcasm to hide insecurities behind, no obsession with the material pleasures in our lives. Only encounters at the most human level. Yet, still there has been many times when for moment I’ve wished that I can relieve them by taking their suffering upon myself.
Sometimes the suffering of others weigh on my heart so much so that it distracts me from living life to the full. Maybe you’ve encountered a moment in your life when you find yourself pondering on all the negative in the world that you find yourself depressed. I can tell you I encounter these moments often. Often my reaction is to just push it out of my mind and focus on all the positive in the world. But then there’s a slight sense of guilt I feel. Almost as if I am abandoning those who suffer.
I’ll be the first to admit; it’s not easy to balance the two ideals that Jesus sets before me.
Looking to the Saints
I’m not sure if there is one particular solution, but perhaps there is probable one.
Mother Teresa is a woman who lived a life of joy in the midst of appalling poverty. How did she maintain joy and still lived in solidarity with the poor. Mother Teresa once said: “Do small things with great love.”
Perhaps that’s the key. To do whatever is in our capacity to be present to those who suffer and to be a loving person.
