When I first came across this anecdote, I was distraught by it, I didn't know what to think. It was the Spring of my Senior year in High School and I was in the midst of compiling my portfolio for my Senior Writing course. The theme of my portfolio was: Success.
Every young person yearns to be successful. We are told that we need to study diligently during our elementary and middle school years so that we can be admitted to a good High School where will take advanced placement courses and study for standardized tests months before we take them, so that we can attend a good University, earn an undergraduate degree, get a good job, go to graduate school, climb the corporate ladder, get a raise, buy a nice house, buy a nice car, have adequate savings, save for retirement, work, socialize, vacation and once you have worked a 40 hour week for 40 straight years you may retire. This is success. . . but in the midst of all our studying, working, driving, purchasing and money saving, where are we glorifying God? Where are we being fulfilled? Where are we recognizing the truth? Where are we actualizing our rational nature?
The answer should be "everywhere, and in all things!" Often during High School, I was told by my guidance counselors, teachers, and coaches that in order to be successful I needed to work hard. I do not doubt that these people wanted the best for me, but they neglected to communicate a key aspect of what it means to be an active follower of Christ: it does not matter if we are successful in this world, because the way the world measures success and the way Christ measures success are completely different. The way that the world often views success is through temporary vision: fortune, popularity, career and education. The way that Christ views success is through eternal vision: humility, love of truth, faithfulness and child-like learning. In order to be truly successful, we need to glorify God through all of our daily actions.
It is possible to be faithful and glorify God through striving for worldly success, but it is very difficult. There is a famous story in the New Testament of Christ conversing with a young, rich man; the rich man is successful in the eyes of his culture, he is rich, young, popular and strives to follow the commandments of God. He asks Jesus: what else can I do? To which Jesus responds: sell all you have and give it to the poor, then come follow me. The young man is distraught, and walks away because he "had many possessions".
I had the fortune of earning a higher education at Wyoming Catholic College; a college that recognized the necessity of learning and gaining knowledge for the real world, while also recognizing that learning should be focused on glorifying God and not on climbing the corporate ladder. Moreover, many of my classmates are working in well-paid positions and have found their niche in the corporate world. But they recognize that with their monetary successes, they are ultimately not called to worldly success, they are called toward the more lasting success of eternal life.
I have been thinking about success more recently, perhaps because of my age and career placement. Being twenty four years old, with a B.A. degree and working in a seasonal job industry I am continually asked the infamous question from peers, co-workers, friends and acquaintances: "what do you want to be when you grow up?". Often when I am asked this question I am stumped. . . "I am grown up", "A detective" and "Your wife" are my main answers. Just kidding about the last answer, but thinking about it, maybe I'll use that sometime.
Since I graduated from college in 2011, I have been following my passion for the outdoors and education. Many outdoor jobs are seasonal and because of this I have moved a couple times and had several jobs in the past two years. From working as an Intern Instructor at an outdoor science school in Jackson, Wyoming to working as a logistics coordinator at an outdoor school in Lander, Wyoming, to working as a backpacking, rafting and mountain biking leader in the Rocky Mountains in Colorado to teaching outdoor education in Adirondack Park in New York. To some, I may seem to be "job hopping", living the "YOLO" life of a young twenty-something. And there may be some truth to these thoughts. I enjoy meeting new people, learning new skills, discovering new places and the challenge of sharing my life, opinions, background etc with people of different backgrounds.
This seasonal job hopping habit of mine has not been extremely lucrative, but it has brought me something that I value more than money, it has brought me fulfillment. I feel fulfilled because I believe that this is where God is calling me. There is a certain peacefulness that comes with following the will of God, and with every choice we make, whether it be small or large we must strive to find and follow His will. It is when our will recognizes, accepts and follows His Will that true success starts happening. We may not be able to be materially successful from this trusting lifestyle, but thankfully that is not what God wants. "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal..." (Matthew 6:19)
May we all strive to understand through the study of the life of Mother Teresa and the saints that material and worldly success does not matter as much as being faithful to the Will of God.
I have been thinking about success more recently, perhaps because of my age and career placement. Being twenty four years old, with a B.A. degree and working in a seasonal job industry I am continually asked the infamous question from peers, co-workers, friends and acquaintances: "what do you want to be when you grow up?". Often when I am asked this question I am stumped. . . "I am grown up", "A detective" and "Your wife" are my main answers. Just kidding about the last answer, but thinking about it, maybe I'll use that sometime.
Since I graduated from college in 2011, I have been following my passion for the outdoors and education. Many outdoor jobs are seasonal and because of this I have moved a couple times and had several jobs in the past two years. From working as an Intern Instructor at an outdoor science school in Jackson, Wyoming to working as a logistics coordinator at an outdoor school in Lander, Wyoming, to working as a backpacking, rafting and mountain biking leader in the Rocky Mountains in Colorado to teaching outdoor education in Adirondack Park in New York. To some, I may seem to be "job hopping", living the "YOLO" life of a young twenty-something. And there may be some truth to these thoughts. I enjoy meeting new people, learning new skills, discovering new places and the challenge of sharing my life, opinions, background etc with people of different backgrounds.
This seasonal job hopping habit of mine has not been extremely lucrative, but it has brought me something that I value more than money, it has brought me fulfillment. I feel fulfilled because I believe that this is where God is calling me. There is a certain peacefulness that comes with following the will of God, and with every choice we make, whether it be small or large we must strive to find and follow His will. It is when our will recognizes, accepts and follows His Will that true success starts happening. We may not be able to be materially successful from this trusting lifestyle, but thankfully that is not what God wants. "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal..." (Matthew 6:19)
May we all strive to understand through the study of the life of Mother Teresa and the saints that material and worldly success does not matter as much as being faithful to the Will of God.
"I will sail my vessel, till the river runs dry
Like a bird upon the wind these waters are my sky
I'll never reach my destination if I never try
So I'll sail my vessel till the river runs dry.
There's bound to be rough waters
And I know I'll take some falls
But with the good Lord as my Captain
I will make it though them all."
-Garth Brooks, "The River"
