Recently at a gathering with friends I was struck by the answer a young woman gave when asked what she would do with her newfound freedom of time when her children went to school. The answer she gave, about building her own empire since her husband had built his in the form of a successful business, provided a look into this woman's priorities and makeup.
The woman who seemed to have been blessed with more than she needs, seemed to be caught up with how to get more. When asked what was important to her she mentioned health, wealth, and happiness in that order. I thought to myself that this young woman had a lot to learn from life. It got me to thinking if she had ever contemplated the following questions;
What is the purpose of life?
Why was I put on earth?
What do you plan to do with your life?
Some people strive to accumulate vast sums of money hoping to achieve happiness while others seek power.
Some only require very little, while others are never satisfied.
Some are fortunate and seem to escape many of life's travails while others seem to be overwhelmed with sadness and sorrow.
Whatever your lot in life you can be assured that one day you will die. That is a certainty and no amount of money or power will make you escape it's clutches. We are reminded of this every year on Ash Wednesday as we hear, "Remember man thou are dust and unto dust thou shalt return."
Approximately 2000 years ago St. Paul dedicated himself to preaching the Good News from God. He instructed the Romans to obey the Law. "Love your neighbor as you love yourself," for the time has come to wake up from the sleep. Study any religion and you'll find one common thread and it is, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."
There are many people of wealth and power that think they are better than others. They seem to forget that only through the Lord's goodness were they able to attain their stature in life. The test lies with what they do with it. The Lord reminded his disciples about how hard it will be for rich people to enter the Kingdom of God. "It is much harder for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God than for a camel to go through the eye of a needle.' - Mark 10,25
He also went on to explain how, "Many who are now first will be last, and many who are last will be first." - Mark 10,31
The Lord gave us the greatest example when He came to serve and not be served. I have witnessed this same service of fellow man in my lifetime in the form of Blessed Mother Teresa.
Some people learn this lesson early on in life while others only realize it when they are on their death bed. Believers and even non-believers will utter God's name when all hope is lost. Don't wait until it's too late.
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