by Joshua Ruoff
Sports has many everyday life applications.
Unfortunately, one painful application is defeat. And is this one painful!
I was excited about the possibility of witnessing sports history being made. Perhaps many of you like me feel angry or shocked. Or maybe you’re thinking, “It’s just a silly game, why does it matter? And how does this apply to our everyday lives?”
Well, how often in our own lives do we get ourselves really excited or hopeful for something to happen?
We want a job interview to go well, we want to get into our favorite school, we want good news from a doctor’s appointment.
Unfortunately, many times we don’t get what we want. When this happens, we can easily become angry at God, especially if what we wanted was an inherently good thing. We begin to question him, and that’s when we can quickly fall into sin and we turn away from God’s plan and begin to make it our plan.
Scripture tells us in the Book of Proverbs: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; /In all your ways submit to him and he shall make straight your paths” (3:5-6).
Although we are made in the image and likeness of God, we are unable to always think like him because of original sin. God is calling each one of us to tremendous faith and trust in his plan for us. He has a marvelous plan for you that is beyond your comprehension, but it requires great faith and trust on your part.
God also calls each one of us to help each other in following his plan for us. When those really difficult things in life happen, it is essential that you have somewhere to go for support and help.
The Fully Alive mental health ministry apostolate of the archdiocese is responding to that need. We are partnering with Benedictine College in Atchison to host regularly scheduled speakers on a variety of mental health topics from a spiritual, psychological and authentic witness perspective.
We hope to address the physical, mental and spiritual impacts of life’s challenges so that we, made of mind, body and spirit, may live fully alive. We encourage every parish to open your doors, invite people in and be a listening ear for those who are heavily burdened.
We hope that this speaker series made available to you will be a helpful tool to begin discussions. You don’t have to be a mental health expert. You just have to be able to listen and have a caring heart.
If you want more information about being involved in this apostolate at your parish, contact the special-needs ministry of the archdiocese.
