Considering What's Important
- Dec 10, 2006
- Series: Skipping Christmas
Skipping Christmas;
CONSIDERING WHAT’S IMPORTANT
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6
Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. Philippians 4:11
Prevailing Question
Why doesn't anybody have any time today? Where did all the time go? Peter Kreeft
If our condition were truly happy we should not need to divert ourselves from thinking about it. (165b) – Pascal
Therefore the society or individual which has the most diversions and amusements is not the happiest but the unhappiest. Therefore our society is the unhappiest. All the social indicators bear out this conclusion: depression, divorce, suicide, drugs, violence – you name it. The point is simple: we never want to divert ourselves from happiness, only from unhappiness. If life felt like a holiday, we would not want a holiday from it. – Kreeft
Diversion. If man were happy, the less he were diverted the happier he would be, like the saints and God. Yes: but is man not happy who can find delight in diversion? No: because it comes from somewhere else, from outside; so he is dependent, and always liable to be disturbed by a thousand and one accidents, which inevitably cause distress. (170) – Pascal
Man’s sensitivity to little things, and insensitivity to the greatest things are marks of a strange disorder. (198) - Pascal
We are more put out at missing a parking place than at missing our place in Heaven; more perturbed at missing the right road at our next appointment than at missing the road to our appointment with God. For “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matt 6:21).
Of all the obstacles to our sanctification, indifference is the most pervasive and difficult to overcome.
Romans 12:11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.
