ONE END

As a novice, I often quarreled with my fellows in the novitiate. I argued over the way things were done. I was angry and disappointed when things were done not in the manner I thought they should be done. I insisted on my way. Thus, discord ensued among us. As I grew in our formation, I realize we all have our ideas (different ways), though we have ONE goal. We are a community with one heart and one mind towards God, but we remain to be individuals with unique traits; unique personalities; unique ways of going to God. Respect becomes an operative word that peace and harmony may exist among us, mindful of the ONE end we all yearn. 

Our oneness does not refer to uniformity. We have our differences, but we should direct these differences to our common END; Christ. Our end unites us. We are one in Christ.

As we go along in our life, we realize our differences and mistakenly lose sight of our common goal. We highlight too much our diversity. We quarrel thinking we are better than the others. As our common end blurs, we end up not understanding our present.

Detach from Christ; we become indifferent with each other. Detach from Christ; things, events, and our very own life make no sense. Our unity in Christ does not seek uniformity but rather a harmonious coexistence with one another, complimenting and helping each other to achieve our desired end. Our unity with Christ enables us to make sense of the conflicts in our lives. 

With our differences, we can harmoniously live and coexist, understanding and accepting our difference, by keeping in our mind the sole purpose why we are together. We form one body, the Church. We have one Lord, one faith, one baptism. Christ is the source of our unity. 

Unless we realize our end, we can never peacefully live in and understand the present, and worse we will never achieve the very purpose why we are gathered; our ONE end.