THE MOST ESSENTIAL IN LIFE

Time management is of great essence in our life. Today there are hundreds of ways beings promoted for us to use our time well. These, too, optimize our energy and efforts for the things and causes that are worthwhile. It is so, for there are many things too that may distract us and put into waste our precious time and energy. 

I remember one of my brothers in the seminary who cannot finish his studies, particularly master’s degree thesis, for he is so distracted by many things in his life. He is stuck with online games and social media. He spends almost eight hours a day surfing the Internet, watching movies online, commenting on all issues posted in Facebook. Should one ask him about the latest issues being talked about in the Internet, he can readily answer it. But such is not the case in his studies. He cannot focus and gather all his efforts to the thing which matters most in his stage of formation; his thesis.   

There are many things demanded from us. But as Christian there is only one thing asked of us; our faithfulness in the mission God gives to us. That mission refers to God's call for us to live a holy life (cf. 1 Thes 4:1-8), for God calls us to holiness. How can we be holy if our efforts and energy are focused and used elsewhere? How can we be holy if we spend our days dealing with mundane things and businesses? We may grow too tired preparing ourselves for things that do not matter in the end; the way we look, what are we going to wear, where are we going tomorrow. All these things are valid concerns as they refer to our sustenance and survival. But we are not to forget the most essential aspect of our life; that is, to answer faithfully to God's call. This is our priority.  As the gospel of Matthew (6:33) says: Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

In answering our calling from God, we may be distracted and fall asleep in attending to the needs and demands of our life. Therefore, stay awake and learn to conserve your limited energy and use it well in answering God's call.  

The good preparation for tomorrow, as they say, is to do your best today. But tomorrow is not promised. Thus, our best preparation is to live every second of our life, in the here and the now, according to God's will.