In my priestly formation, I met a great man whose life story has never ceased to impress me. He told me, “One day I stood before a panel of priests like you, who would determine my future.
As a young man, only one dream dominated my heart. I wanted to be a priest or missionary. Over and over again, I prayed, ‘Lord, I want to serve you on your sanctuary or travel as a missionary for you. Open a door of service for me.” Now, at last, my prayer was answered that day. When the interview was over, the panel turned down my request. I did not meet the qualifications. I failed! I had set my direction, but now life gave me a detour. What was I to do? As I prayed, in my anger and disappointment, God planted another idea in my heart. If I cannot be a missionary or priest, I could help “build up” those who are chosen for that task. And this is how I found you and for all these years we have laboured to support priests and religious.”
This man brought God into his life situation, and God transformed his detour into a main thoroughfare of service. And I am a witness and proud beneficiary of his generosity. My question to you is, how do you bring God into your disappointing situations?
Often when you are driven by your ambition and desires, it is very difficult to be content with life, and worse still if there were seeming disappointments. Let us consider how some famous people managed their perceived disappointments: Alexander the Great conquered Persia but broke down and wept because his troops were too exhausted to push on to India. Hugo Grotius, the father of modern international law, said at the last, “I have accomplished nothing worthwhile in my life.”
Robert Louis Stevenson (known for his book, Treasure Island), wrote books that continue to delight and enrich many lives, and yet what did he write for his epitaph? “Here lies one who meant well, who tried a little, and failed much.” Cecil Rhodes (a British mining magnate and politician in southern Africa) opened up Africa and established an empire, but what were his dying words? “So little done, so much to do.” What were or are your frequent lamenting tantrums? How have you brought God into your ambitions and disappointments?
The sudden disappointment of a hope leaves a scar which the ultimate fulfilment of that hope never entirely removes. Hence the wise say, “Maturity is a bitter disappointment for which no remedy exists unless laughter can be said to remedy anything.” In the book Disappointment with God, Philip Yancey tells the story of a man called Douglas. Douglas was a devout Christian whose wife was diagnosed with breast cancer which spread into the lungs.
One night in the middle of all this, he was driving with his wife and 12-year-old daughter when a drunk driver crashed them head-on. His wife and daughter suffered minor injuries, but Douglas received a massive blow to the head, leaving him with constant headaches and dizzy spells. He couldn’t work a full day, became disoriented and developed a double vision with one eye.
When Yancey met with Douglas to interview if he was disappointed with God, Douglas told him: “To tell you the truth, I don’t feel any disappointment with God… We tend to think, ‘Life should be fair because God is fair.’ If I confuse the presence of God with the physical reality of life – by expecting, for example, constant good health – then I have set myself up for a crushing disappointment. No, I am rather cruising down with Him, and my motto is let His will be done!” May the detours of God lead you onto the main thoroughfare of worship and service. Give me an Amen or a Laughter!!!
May your week not be weak but with Him. I send you my prayerful wishes for the week. (By Fr. Ray®acc.GH)
