by Father Mark Goldasich
Incredibly, at least for me, we’re now in the season of autumn and have entered the last quarter of 2024. These next few months are not only filled with many celebrations but can be a hectic and stressful time as well.
Perhaps this following story can be a great reminder of how we’re called to finish out the year:
A college professor gave a balloon to every student in his class to write their name on. Then, he asked them to throw their balloons in the hallway. The students were given five minutes to find their own balloon. Not one of them was able to do so.
The professor then told the students to take the first balloon they found and hand it to the person whose name was written on it. Within five minutes, everyone had their own balloon.
Finally, the professor said to the students, “These balloons are like happiness. We’ll never find it if everyone is looking for their own. But if we care about other people’s happiness, we’ll find ours as well!” (Found in the Jan. 1 entry in “The Christophers Three Minutes a Day,” vol. 58.)
What a great life lesson. When we care about the happiness of others first and foremost, our hearts are happy as well. It reminds us of Jesus saying that his followers are called “not to be served, but to serve.”
Our modern world can be a very selfish place. Many people spend their days only being concerned about “what’s best for me.” Pope Francis warns that this attitude can lead to a hardness of heart, an indifference to others, particularly the poor.
I truly believe that the Christian faith is easy to understand but difficult to live out. Loving one’s enemies, turning the other cheek and denying ourselves are things that most of us would rather not think about, let alone practice. But what a different world this would be if we took those commands of Jesus seriously.
Let’s commit ourselves, especially as Catholics, to make the rest of this year a time to bring joy to others. In our hearts, we know how to do this. It can be as simple as paying a compliment to someone; volunteering our time to our parish or a charitable organization; donating some money or our excess possessions to those who minister to the poor; writing a heartfelt thank-you note; or making time for coffee or a meal with a neglected friend.
The website Brain Injury Services suggests a couple of unusual ones like being willing to do the “dirty work” like cleaning up after an event or being kind online (especially in this election year). It’s also great to remember our manners, like saying “please” and “thank you”; holding the door open for someone; returning shopping carts to the corral; or picking up litter.
One of the easiest, though, is to smile. Consider some of its benefits:
“A smile costs nothing but gives much. It enriches those who receive without making poorer those who give. It takes but a moment but the memory of it sometimes lasts forever. . . . It brings rest to the weary, cheer to the discouraged, sunshine to the sad, and it is nature’s best antidote for trouble. . . . Some people are too tired to give you a smile. Give them one of yours, as none needs a smile so much as the one who has no more to give.” (Found in “Illustrations Unlimited,” edited by James S. Hewett.)
I’ll leave you with one last thought (from the book above) that I hope will make you smile: “You should do something every day to make other people happy . . . even if it’s only to leave them alone!”
