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We Are More Than We Seem
Fr. John Cusick
That sentence scrolls across my computer
screen all day long: We...are...more...than...we...seem. It is a
concept that I want to believe, but I'll admit, I have the toughest
time believing and putting into practice in my daily life. Maybe
that is why I turned it into a computer screen saver. After all,
if I see it often enough, then I really might begin to believe it.
How about you? Do you believe that you are
more than you seem? The quick answer is, "Well, of course I
believe that I am!" But if you really do, how does that affect
your daily life? Belief is a funny thing. We believe a lot of things
about ourselves, about life, and about what makes up a good and
valued life. Yet for many people, beliefs are a very cerebral or
intellectual thing. Their beliefs may not influence the way they
live their daily lives. For others, beliefs are more subtle and
so much more powerful.
Many people will tell you that they believe
in God. Yet, you might find yourself in total amazement watching
how they live their lives. You might hear yourself saying, "If
you believe in God, doesn't that demand a certain way of living?
How can you be doing that?" They might maintain an intellectual
belief in some supreme being, but a lifestyle driven by self-centeredness,
values not compatible with our faith, quick judgments of others
and a basic lack of respect for people not as fortunate as they.
The message of the Lord Jesus to His followers - then and now -
is one that must affect they way life is led. Calling Jesus our
Lord and Savior cannot be just a bunch of pious words; it must reflect
the attitude and lifestyles of today's disciples, believers and
followers. The attitude and lifestyle of a follower of Christ is
all about knowing and putting into practice that we are all more
than we seem. That is so contrary to many of the attitudes and lifestyles
of the popular culture.
All too often we are lured into thinking
that if we only had certain things, we would be happier, much more
alive and very successful. We can all play that "if only"
game. If only I was married. If only I had that job. If only I could
make more money. If only I had a better back swing. If only I could
travel more often. If only they would do it my way. The "if
only" game is always played by thinking that only something
outside of yourself will really make you happy. The truth is that
even right now we are more than we seem. We have a divine Spirit
that dwells in and with us. We are an image of a loving, creator
God. We are a son or daughter of the Most High. We are related by
spiritual birth to the most exciting, alive and life-giving person
who ever lived Ð the Lord Jesus. We are filled with an ability to
forgive our friends, our enemies, and even ourselves...if we so
choose.
We have a spirit of love deep within us
that can touch even those deemed unlovable by society.
We have a compassion for life that no amount
of money can buy.
We can create a better world when the "status
quo" is seen a sufficient.
And in a world where we are defined by our
gender or color or accent or pay check or job description or resume
or failings or health, we are, in fact more than we seem.
We are the beneficiaries of a spiritual
life from the One who told us, "I have come that you may have
life and have it abundantly."
Bet on it! We are more than we seem.
Believe it.
Then, give it away! Let someone else in
your circle of life know that they, too, are more than they seem.
Give thanks! Say a prayer of thanksgiving to the Source of All Life
for filling you with life...life in abundance. We invite you to
use some of the activities and programs within the pages of this
newsletter to get in touch with the "more" that is a part
of you. Consider making a retreat, praying with your peers, learning
more about your religion, gathering to focus on whatÕs most important,
helping someone in need or tapping into the Catholic Year of Jubilee
during the summer of 2000.
All of it is open to you and
your peers, and something might just be a reminder that we really
are more than we seem.
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