Faith and Committment

Commitment is a very important ingredient of life. It is the truest sign that we believe in something and shows how serious we are about it. Commitment gives us focus, shows how responsible we are and how determined we are to make our visions possible. Everyone is committed to someone or something. It could be your health, career or family. The character of people can be assessed by their levels of commitment. Relationships that lack serious commitment do not last, and people get fired from their jobs when they are not committed.  The question is, how committed are you? We cannot answer this question honestly without taking a closer and deeper look at our values if we know them, and if we don’t maybe it’s time we try to identify them? 

The first key to commitment is goal setting. Unless we set goals that are meaningful, there will not be accompanying motivation to attain the goal(s). Take the case of a teenager whose dream is to become an engineer. The student must begin to develop the skills needed for a professional training in engineering and he or she must begin to make choices that will help foster that desire, such as choices about who to be friends with, how best to use theirs or things, or taking college level courses in Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry. 

The second key to commitment is to willingly exert oneself for the greater good, even when it is uncomfortable. For example, the young prospective engineer may need to sacrifice engaging playing Facebook chat, computer games or spend hours watching hours of television. So, instead of attending parties or engaging in wild teenager pranks, the focused will look for a more creative and productive opportunities such as internships. 

  

The third key to commitment is re-commitment. A person of integrity should be concerned about the type of progress he or she is making. Similarly, when we constantly re-evaluate the levels of commitment, it helps to put things into a clearer perspective. This enables us to separate mere words from action and dreams from reality. On the other hand, if we are satisfied with the result we are getting, it enhances our self-esteem, and makes life worthwhile.  So as we journey through life, let us take the time to ask the tough questions:

1.      Have I been committed to whatever or whomever?

2.      Does my behaviors reflect the values or person I am supposed to be   committed to?

3.      Are my choices compatible with my dreams?

4.      What do I need to improve? Change?

These are the types of questions I have been asking myself at this time in my religious formation. What does it mean to live a life completely dedicated to God? Are my behaviors, choices and actions compatible with my dream of becoming a Sister of Divine Providence? As a Christian, I know that it is impossible to live a committed life without first acknowledging that “all good and perfect gift comes from God” (James 1: 17), including the gift to seek, love and serve him. The Catechism of the Catholic Church captured this truth clearly. Part 1, section 1 of the article on the Profession of Faith states that the desire for God is written in the human heart, because they are created by God and for God; and God never ceases to draw them to himself. In other words, only in God can I find true happiness. The article also explained that God wants us to be in communion with him so that I can know and do his will.

God is always with me and has brought me to this moment of my life. This is great! I do not think that there is any commitment that is greater than God’s commitment to us and his commitment continues for all time. In John 14:3, Jesus told his disciples that he is going to prepare a place for them so that where he is, they will be as well.  It encourages me to know that God is watching out for me much more than my desire to return his love, because I know I can’t. The more I contemplate God through our Congregation, the more it is clear to me that our beloved founder John Martin Moye understood what total commitment to God means. Everything he did: his intentions, writings, and actions were initiated, executed and sustained by Providence because he abandoned all to Divine Grace. Until his last breath, he prayed for, preached, taught, wrote about the reign of God. Like Father Moye, I am just going to continue to let God dwell in my heart through faith so that I may be grounded in his love (Ephesian 3:17). Like Father Moye, I have accepted Jesus as my way, my truth and my life and as his sheep, I will continue to strive to listen to his voice and follow him. I will not be discouraged with my shortcomings because the Lord is with me and will always uphold me (Isiah 41:10). Commitment, then, is to realize that you have been chosen by God, that you are special to him and that he is waiting to open your eyes, to discover his unconditional love so that you can return it to him through your love and service for others.