In the past 12 months, I’ve done a lot of contemplative reading that has enabled me to rearrange my brain in what I perceive is a good way. My reading range from Thomas Merton to Zen to Native American stories [rarely written, always told and ‘related], and I’ve become attentive to minimalism and am trying to make it a part of my life. As I told one of my friends recently, I’ve concluded that our sole objective in life is to live it as best we can in accordance with God’s will. I believe that if we do, we will be fulfilled, which, in turn means we lead happy and productive lives. Father Tom Rosica enriched my thought in his Zenit “Word Made Flesh” essay this morning on the Loyalty of God’s Son. His thought is something I will contemplate and consider until I get it right. Father Rosica writes,
“Reflect on your own sense of loyalty this week. Unless you find some sort of loyalty, you cannot find unity and peace in our active living. True loyalty is a positive, wholehearted devotion to those things beyond our own selfish private selves. It is much bigger than we are and no one can be really successful or happy if he lives only for himself. How loyal are you?
“Here is a simple test: Make a list of the simple things in which nearly everyone believes -- family, community, church, country and employer. Ask yourself if since making this list you have so lived that these five things are stronger, better, finer, because of you. If you can answer "yes" truthfully, you know that you understand the full meaning of loyalty -- and, incidentally, the secret of true happiness. It is also the road to holiness.”
