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– One –

A Sense of Purpose

I’m the third of seven children. I’m the only priest or nun in the family. Of the seven, I’ve heard my mom say that I was the least likely to have followed this path. I try not to take that personally — and honestly, that’s not hard. I wouldn’t have picked me either! Until shortly before I joined the seminary, I had no plans, thoughts, or even interest in being a priest. It just happened. At least that’s how it felt at the time. My roommate in college was discerning a call to the priesthood and that intrigued me. With the goal of encouraging him, I set up and then accompanied him on visits to seminaries. He never joined, but I did. Then he asked me for permission to ask my girlfriend out on a date. Reluctantly, I gave him the okay, and they are now married with eight children. I’ve been blessed to give most of them their first Communion.

That might sound like a Cinderella story. It doesn’t feel like one to me. And I’m pretty sure it doesn’t feel like one for my roommate or his wife. We are all very happy with the path we have followed in answer to God’s call, but it hasn’t been easy. Cinderella stories on television and in sports start off hard and end in bliss. In the things that truly matter, no matter how we start off, bliss rarely shows up to stay. Instead, we struggle daily to live up to the lifelong choices we made long ago.

Does that sound too somber? I write it with a smile. I couldn’t be happier that God called me to the life he has. It’s not a happiness that comes from things in my life being easy or going my way. My joy comes from a deep confidence that God created me because he wanted me, no matter how things feel or go. He made me because he loved me even before my family knew me. He did this because he wanted also for me to know, love, and serve him in this life and to be with him forever in the next.

It would be fair to ask how I know this. I know it by faith. I know it too, at a different level, with my head and heart. By this I mean that I’m not torn between what my brain tells me and what my faith tells me. I believe it with all that I am. So much so, in fact, that I would bet my life on it. And I have.

This faith in God and his plan for me translates into a purpose-driven life, as my friend Pastor Rick Warren describes it. Father Keller saw in the Scriptures and in his Catholic faith that God is the author of our purpose. Jesus said that we are called to be light and seasoning for a dark and dull world. He invited us to “put out into the deep,” to embark on the adventure of navigating salvation history for our own souls and for our neighbor. There was, perhaps, no other topic more dear to the heart of Father Keller than this conviction that you and I are created by God with a unique mission, and that if we discover our mission and work to fulfill it, we can change the world.

Do you know what your purpose is? Have you begun to fulfill your mission? Listen now to Father Keller’s inspiring presentation of what God is calling you to do and be.

— Father Jonathan

– Your Special Mission –

The expression, “man with a mission,” appears occasionally in newspapers and magazine articles. It is a fit reference to a person who manages to keep his ideals high, his goal big, his vision clear, and who displays dogged determination in putting his convictions to work.

Such a person can do much to shape for the better the world in which he lives. Those without any purpose bigger than self rarely do anything worthwhile and usually turn out to be bores even to themselves.

We of the Christophers are constantly striving to arouse a sense of mission in millions of people. We try to remind one and all that God has assigned to each of them a special mission in life to perform.

Yes, you — whoever or wherever you are — have been personally given a particular role to play on the stage of life which has been given to no one else. God will provide every help to assist you in playing your role well. If you cooperate, the world itself will be better because you have been in it.

“You are the salt of the earth. But if salt losesits taste, with what can it be seasoned?”

Matthew 5:13

GUIDE ME, O DIVINE MASTER, TO FOLLOW THE PLAN

THAT YOU HAVE ASSIGNED TO ME.

– Into the Deep –

“Make no little plans. They have no magic to stir one’s blood. Make big plans, aim high in hope and work” is the advice of one expert. You will never bring out the bit of greatness within you, if you set your sights low.

No matter how insignificant your role in life may seem, it is important. You have been delegated by God Almighty to help a world which too few are bothering to try and save. Evildoers are not content to defile the few. They have daring plans to debase and enslave all of mankind.

You are endowed with a capacity to embrace the whole world and everybody in it with your love. The more you develop your own great potential by setting big goals for yourself, the more meaning and purpose you will add to your life while benefiting countless others.

Christ told the fishermen He chose as His apostles to overcome their inclination to smallness. He bade them tackle the task of fishing in a daring way.

“Put out into deep water and lower your netsfor a catch.”

Luke 5:4

LET ALL THAT I THINK, SAY, AND DO, O JESUS, BE MOTIVATED

BY DIVINE BIGNESS, NOT HUMAN SMALLNESS.

– Fully Alive –

A man on a hiking trip through the Blue Ridge Mountains came to the top of a hill and saw, just below the crest, a small log cabin. Its aged owner was sitting in front of the door, smoking a corncob pipe, and when the traveler drew close enough he asked the old man patronizingly: “Lived here all your life?”

“Nope,” the old mountaineer replied patiently. “Not yet.”

However long or short it may be, there is time ahead for all of us to live our days with high purpose. When we lose this sense of purpose in life, we have lost an important part of life itself. Living each day fully is a vital part of being a Christopher.

“Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrowwill take care of itself.”

Matthew 6:34

O GOD, MAY I BE EVER AWARE THAT EACH DAY

IS A LIFETIME TO BE LIVED FOR YOU.

– It Can Be Done –

Two young men started an unusual hike from California to New York via the seashore.

Both hikers, in their early twenties, planned to follow the coastline of California from Los Angeles to the border of Mexico, then down the Peninsula of Lower California, and the west coast of Mexico and Guatemala to the Panama Canal.

After crossing the Canal Zone, their long detour would continue up the shore of the Caribbean to the Gulf of Mexico and the tip of Florida. The final leg of their journey should bring them up the eastern shore of the United States.

Why such a unique, arduous trek that will take eighteen months to complete? The young men simply replied: “To prove it can be done.”

Once persons make up their minds to conquer an earthly goal, they will go to great lengths to achieve it. They can do the same for eternal goals. But they must first set their sights on heaven, and stir within themselves the determination and perseverance needed.

Think of what is above, not of what is on earth.

Colossians 3:2

INSTILL IN ME, O LORD, THE TENACITY

TO WIN THE CROWN OF LIFE.

– No Time to Lose –

The ship’s chief engineer, coming down the companionway into the engine room, shouted: “How long have you been working in this compartment?”

The fireman, recently assigned to the crew, answered honestly: “Ever since I saw you coming down the ladder.”

There is a constant temptation for all of us to “take it easy” until an emergency arises.

Often we tend to excuse our own spiritual idleness, putting off action to some future time which we imagine will be more opportune.

We are naturally inclined to believe that a kind of routine goodness is enough, and we postpone any really energetic spiritual activity. In actuality every day is the right day for spiritual labor — is the proper time for directing our moral energies toward our eternal goal. Indeed, there is no time to lose!

Behold, now is a very acceptable time; behold,now is the day of salvation.

2 Corinthians 6:2

LORD CHRIST, GRANT THAT I MAY ALWAYS BE ALERT

TO SERVING YOU AND DOING GOOD TO OTHERS.

– Preparing for Eternity –

Always popular are the following words, which are attributed to Stephen Grellet, French-born Quaker who died in New Jersey in 1855. For all of us Grellet’s simple yet charged remarks can be a source of inspiration:

I shall pass through this world but once.

Any good thing I can do, or any kindness

that I can show any human being, let me

do it now and not defer it. For I shall not

pass this way again.

How true these words are! And since we have but one brief “testing period” here in which to prepare for eternity, it behooves us not to waste or misuse it. The chance, once gone, will never be offered to us again.

Do not love the world or the things of theworld. If anyone loves the world, the love ofthe Father is not in him…. Yet the world andits enticement are passing away. But whoeverdoes the will of God remains forever.

1 John 2:15, 17

LORD, TEACH ME TO BE IN THE WORLD, NOT OF THE WORLD, AND

TEACH ME TO DO GOOD, THUS STORING UP TREASURES IN HEAVEN.

– Aim to Do Good –

It’s easy to slip into a passive or negative way of living. But those who smugly boast, “I’ve never done any harm to anyone,” and think that’s the peak of achievement really miss the big reason for living.

Nowhere in the Gospels does Our Lord advise us to take it easy.

Jesus repeatedly stresses that we should use our talent and not bury it by leading lives that are nothing better than harmless.

He emphasizes that our very salvation depends upon the positive good we do for others with the gifts He has entrusted to us.

Do good, He commands. Avoiding evil is not enough. Love your neighbor, He insists. That means far more than just tolerating or refraining from hurting others.

“Just so, your light must shine before others,that they may see your good deeds and glorifyyour heavenly Father.”

Matthew 5:16

DEEPEN IN ME, O LORD, A YEARNING TO FILL MY LIFE WITH GOOD

DEEDS, NOT MERELY TO AVOID HARM.

– The Wrong Way –

A tired passenger at the Los Angeles airport recently boarded what he thought was a Chicago-bound plane.

Dozing off immediately, he woke up several hours later and glanced out of the plane window. Instead of seeing the Rocky Mountains, he gaped in astonishment at the wide blue Pacific. The stewardess told him the plane was flying to Honolulu!

To make matters worse he couldn’t even enjoy a day’s stay in Hawaii because urgent business demanded his presence in Chicago. Two hours after landing in Honolulu, he was on a plane heading back for the mainland and Chicago.

Slight mistakes in these fast-moving times can cause havoc in more ways than one. The consequences of even the smallest oversight involving your soul may be far more serious than taking the wrong plane or train.

Check and double-check to make sure that your sense of purpose and direction is toward God, not away from Him, and you will save yourself much grief.

Steady my feet in accord with your promise;do not let iniquity lead me.

Psalm 119:133

PROTECT ME FROM MY OWN CARELESSNESS, O LORD.

– Taking Initiative –

The word “pawn” is defined in Webster’s dictionary as “the chessman of least value … also, figuratively, an insignificant factor,” as “a pawn in the political game.”

Even if you are not a chess player, you probably have heard people refer to themselves as helpless pawns which don’t count and can be pushed around without having anything to say about it.

But too often this is the fault of the individuals themselves. They lead completely passive lives, willing to be nudged here and there by the opinions and pressures of others. Because they are so negative, they often leave the way open for others to take advantage of them.

God made none of us pawns. Each one has a job and a responsibility toward helping the big world. God didn’t create us to sit on the sidelines and wait for someone else to move us along. He wishes each of us to show initiative and daring — to make our influence for good felt in the mainstream of life. If we do, we’ll be anything but pawns. We’ll keep our individuality, and by the grace of God, we shall leave the world better than we found it.

“You are the light of the world. A city set on amountain cannot be hidden.”

Matthew 5:14

LET ME DARE TO TAKE INITIATIVE FOR YOUR SAKE, O LORD.

– Working with God –

“God gives the nuts, but He does not crack them,” runs an old German proverb.

In short, the Lord wishes each of us to work with Him in solving problems, small and large.

By accepting this responsibility, you will —

1. Learn not only to think for yourself, but also how to put your original ideas to work.

2. Discover hidden talent that you never realized you possessed.

3. Become self-reliant when your own experiences prove that your contribution is needed.

4. Show more daring for good once you discover ways and means, on your own initiative, to solve problems affecting everybody.

5. Develop your imagination and enterprise each time you strive to be a “self-starter.”

6. Enjoy the sense of personal fulfillment that the Lord promises to those who, while depending on Him, put to good use the reasonable independence which He expects each of us to show.

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and youwill find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”

Matthew 7:7

HELP ME, O DIVINE MASTER, TO FACE MY RESPONSIBILITIES,

NOT DODGE THEM.

– Live Creatively –

Someone once asked Mallory, the famous climber who lost his life on Mount Everest, why he wanted to attempt to scale that mountain.

Mallory answered simply: “Because it is there.”

The daring climber saw a challenge in the very existence of the uncharted peak, and something would not let him rest until he had attempted it.

Many of us would like to drift through life, taking it as it comes, following the easy path. But for others a challenge exists — the challenge to live creatively, to mold life into something worthwhile. Like the climber, they see the difficulty and the hardship, but they see also the reward: a deep sense of accomplishment — the sense the Christian has when he carries Christ up the steep slopes and keeps in sight the end of the climb — the peak of eternity.

… nor height, nor depth, nor any othercreature will be able to separate us from thelove of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:39

LORD, TEACH ME NEVER TO TURN AWAY FROM THE CHALLENGE LIFE

OFFERS TO WIN SOULS BACK TO YOU.

– The Cost of Discipleship –

When you accept a position of responsibility, don’t be surprised by the troubles, problems, disappointments, and misunderstandings that go with it. Such trials are the penalties of leadership.

Far from being disheartened by hardship, regard it as a badge of honor. It is usually the best possible proof that you are on the right track.

The Leader of Leaders constantly reminds all who would be effective Christ-bearers in His cause that they must earn their battle scars. “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23).

Look beyond the heartaches and heartbreaks that you are bound to encounter. They are the lot of every worthwhile leader. Never forget that you are winning most while you seem to lose.

One day you will have the consolation of saying with St. Paul:

I have competed well; I have finished the race;I have kept the faith. From now on the crownof righteousness awaits me, which the Lord,the just judge, will award to me on that day.

2 Timothy 4:7-8

HELP ME TO REALIZE THAT I AM WINNING WHILE I SEEM

TO BE LOSING, O MY SAVIOR.

– Endless Love –

A ninety-nine-year-old doctor in Pennsylvania gave a forceful answer when asked why he did not retire after nearly seventy years of practice. “Who would take care of my patients?” Was his reply.

Declining a proposal to make his birthday a community celebration, the dedicated doctor, said to be the nation’s oldest practicing physician, insisted on keeping his usual office hours.

Those who devote their time, talent, and energy to the service of others who are in physical, intellectual, or spiritual need enjoy life as few others do.

Seldom do they seek or feel the need of the pleasures and diversions which are almost a necessity for those who have occupations to which they give little of themselves.

Whatever your job in life may be, try to see in it countless opportunities to share the blessings that God has entrusted to you with as many people as you can — and for as long as you can.

Be on your guard, stand firm in the faith, becourageous, be strong.

1 Corinthians 16:13

REMIND ME, O JESUS, THAT I HAVE ONLY A COMPARATIVELY

SHORT LIFE IN WHICH TO PREPARE FOR ETERNITY.

– A Big Vision –

Two men were working on a cathedral. One, a skilled artisan, cut the stone needed in the construction of the great building. But his gloomy, grouchy attitude plainly showed that his work meant little more to him than providing him with a livelihood.

The other man was just an unskilled laborer. His job was simply to carry the stones that the artisan prepared. But he went about his work with such zest and enthusiasm that a passerby asked him how he could be so happy doing such an ordinary task.

“How can I be so happy?” he exclaimed. “Why, man, I’m building a cathedral.”

Greatness of outlook and purpose can inspire anyone to reach beyond the narrow confines of a kitchen, factory, or office and contribute to the common good of all.

God blesses bigness of vision. Those who truly strive, even in an insignificant way, to bring His love and truth to all men realize that they are truly trying to build a new world.

“Go into the whole world and proclaim thegospel to every creature.”

Mark 16:15

DEEPEN IN US, O HOLY SPIRIT, AN APPRECIATION OF HOW WE CAN

RISE TO GREATNESS THROUGH BIG VISION.

– Where Am I Headed? –

“Where did we come from?” “Where do we go?” And in between: “Why are we here?” The answer to these questions are at the heart of Eugene Vale’s penetrating novel, The Thirteenth Apostle.

This provocative story dwells in a most engaging manner on the “mystery of our role on earth — the great questions at the beginning and end of our existence.”

It is a gripping account of a search by an American consul, an artist, lost in the mountains of a small Caribbean country. The quest leads the consul into deep soul-searching. Readers find themselves confronted by the same eternal challenge “which can be pushed from our minds, but cannot be denied.”

God made you to know Him and love Him in this world, and to be happy with Him for all eternity. The more fully you comprehend this divine purpose for your existence, the more meaning and nobility you will add to your own pilgrimage through life.

“In my Father’s house there are manydwelling places. If there were not, would Ihave told you that I am going to prepare aplace for you? And if I go and prepare a placefor you, I will come back again and take you tomyself, so that where I am you also may be.”

John 14:2-3

INSTILL IN ME, O HOLY SPIRIT, THAT DIVINE DISCONTENT

HERE BELOW THAT LEADS TO PERFECTION HEREAFTER.