Even Life's 'fluff' Can Help Us Attain Salvation
I don’t know why exactly, but the concept of time enthralls me. As a result, I frequently ponder the differences between what is transient and what is eternal and, therefore, significant. It seems that so few things are eternal, and I wonder how we fabricated so much “filler” for our lives—where does all our time go? Do sports contribute to our salvation, or the books we read or the shows we watch?
We spend our time in school or at work, and then relaxing and doing recreational activities; and to be honest, I doubt many of us spend even an hour daily praying or consciously working toward reaching heaven. I certainly don’t, and it bothers me because why should I do anything if not to live for God and attain heaven? I wonder what life would be reduced to if we eliminated what I consider “fluff;” am I even correct in identifying these daily activities as unnecessary? Are these “fillers” instead opportunities to apply Jesus’s teachings?
The Catechism of the Catholic Church calmed my frenzied thoughts in its 901st paragraph:
“For all [the laity’s] works, prayers, and apostolic undertakings, family and married life, daily work, relaxation of mind and body, if they are accomplished in the Spirit—indeed even the hardships of life if patiently born—all these become spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ…the laity consecrate the world itself to God, everywhere offering worship by the holiness of their lives.”
Paragraph 2427 describes this as “a means of sanctification and a way of animating earthly realities with the Spirit of Christ.” These excerpts helped me reconcile my idea of humdrum, irrelevant activities with my focus on our greater purpose and eternal lives with God. This concept ties in to 1 Thessalonians 5:16-17, as well: “Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing.” It is understood that St. Paul doesn’t literally mean we must be in constant prayer, but that by our words and actions, we should always point others to God and keep him in mind. Just so, the clubs and sports we participate in are not merely frivolous entertainments to pass the time on Earth. They are opportunities to let our lights shine as Jesus’s disciples, directing others to him in our daily conduct.
It is far too easy to imagine that our daily work is insignificant in the grand scheme of things, and sometimes we fail to see our activities’ relevance to even the immediate future. However, the ultimate goal of the activity may not be about what we do but how we do it. The manner in which we accomplish our tasks will convey to others the importance of God in our lives. I was troubled by the volume of time I spend on things I previously perceived as impermanent and meaningless, but now I am excited to do these things with the love of God invigorating me.
Maria Sermersheim is a senior at Reitz Memorial High School. She is a member of Good Shepherd Parish in Evansville, and attends with her parents, Keith and Connie Sermersheim.
