July 27, 2020 Keep on Keeping On - Father Michael's Words to Live By

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely,* and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us.”  (Hebrews 12:1)

Greetings!  Father Michael here from Christ Church Coronado with this week’s Words to Live By.

Have you ever heard the phrase: “If it wasn’t for ‘bad luck’ – I’d have no luck at all?”   Or I have got nothing but problems in my life.  Problems! Problems! Problems! 

This reminds me of the time when Linus and Charley Brown are walking along, and Linus says: “I don’t like to face problems head on.  I think the best way to solve problems is to avoid them.  In fact, this is a distinct philosophy of mine.  No problem is so big or so complicated that it can’t be run away from!”

Well, we all know that none of us are exempt from problems.  There is no insulated, isolated place we can escape.  So how do we overcome problems and circumstances that have the potential to sabotage our spiritual growth?  How will we persevere when life is tough?”  I believe the answer is quite simple but profound: The answer is:  Trust the Lord and keep on keeping on!

Father Alfred D’Souza wrote: “For a long time, it had seemed to me that life was about to begin -- real life.  But there was always some obstacle in the way, some problem to solve first, some unfinished business, some debt to be paid. Then life would begin. At last it dawned on me that these obstacles – these problems were my life."

The reality of life is simply that life always brings problems. We are not exempt.  The rain falls on the just and the unjust. And so, it helps to shift our perspective. We can try and avoid the problems. We can feel victimized by what is happening.

Or we can boldly face our problems, learn from our mistakes, from others – and as we do – we discover a great deal about ourselves and the world.

The Hebrew writer says: “Let us lay aside every weight and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us.”

These are certainly wise and wonderful words to live by.  I pray that – no matter what our problems– we will continue to trust God and keep on keeping on.

 May it be so in your life and mine.  God bless you.