Will You Come Run with Me to Happiness?
Get The Facts!
Photo By: Flickr/David Michalczuk
Proverbs 5:23; Fools, Characteristics OfFolly, Effects Of
He will die for lack of instruction, And in the greatness of his folly he will go astray.
I recently had an article post on this website. One of the comments it elicited I found particularly interesting, not because of the content, but because this particular poster didn’t even get past the third paragraph before, in her own words “she had to stop”. Then she felt compelled to emotionally respond with her opinion, before she even read the whole piece.
I didn’t respond. I actually pondered the comment in my heart, and tried to understand what it actually meant. It seems that this sort of emotional, reactionary type of response and action demonstrates what is wrong today in our society, our world, and our Church.
This person was so quick to comment and hurl her accusations and to point out how wrong I was, without even getting past the first few paragraphs of the article. These sorts of comments and posts are all over my Facebook page these days.
How many of us get sucked into the news of the day when we don’t even know if it is based on complete and accurate information? Are we seeking the Truth behind the words? Do we even care what the Truth is? Are we spinning and manipulating everything we read and hear to conform to our own desires and agendas, our own emotional responses? How many of us are actually looking at the whole picture within the framework of history, and the broader context? We must paint with wide strokes. Are we condemning actions based on the one aspect that we emotionally respond to, without using reason to understand the total picture?
How many of us decide that we don’t agree with Church teaching without even taking the time and effort to understand why the Church teaches what it does? Do we really disagree, or are we just blindly responding emotionally to the desires or our own hearts, instead of seeking the Truth that can give us life?
We really must grab ahold of our emotions and get them into check. God made us different from every other creature by giving us the gift of reason and intellect. When we react emotionally we are letting our pride and arrogance dictate our heart. That is dangerous.
I get it. It can be very difficult. Satan is not playing on a level playing field and he doesn ‘t fight fair. He uses our weaknesses against us, and he is masterful at it. If we are not arming ourselves with knowledge and Truth, we will definitely get sucked into the fire and despair that all these emotional outbursts and accusations elicit.
We must get the get the facts, no matter what they concern. Then apply those facts to what God has revealed to us. Then we must live in the Lord, and our actions will be justified.
1 Corinthians 1:18-31, For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, "I WILL DESTROY THE WISDOM OF THE WISE, AND THE CLEVERNESS OF THE CLEVER I WILL SET ASIDE." Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God. But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, "LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD."
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About the Author
I am a wife and mother of two grown sons. Although I am Cradle Catholic, I experienced a profound reversion to the True faith several years ago that motivated and inspired me to dive more deeply into an understanding of the Church and Her teachings, and why She has these teachings and where they come from. Surprisingly, for me, the more I read and discovered, the deeper my love of the Catholic Church and her teachings became. This certainly is a journey that doesn't end, and so as I uncover more amazing facts about our Faith and Church, I just can't help but want to share what I'm learning. So, I began writing for Catholic 365.
I have recently served for a year and a half as the Executive Director of a very active and busy Crisis Pregnancy Center on the West side of Cincinnati. God is so good and does answers prayers, even though He knows at times, we have no idea what we are asking for. The pro life cause is paramount to our times, I am so honored and humbled to have had the experience and opportunity to serve women and the unborn in this capacity! I am also very grateful to God, for allowing me to see for myself, that perhaps such a calling was not His long term plan for me. We go where God seeminly calls us, and for me, that was a return to corporate America. I currently work as a recruiter and sales onboarding specialist where I am helping a Franchising company open and support small businesses that serve seniors and the elderly, giving them opportunities to age in place and live thier final chapters with dignity. It is the other end of the pro life spectrum and such an amazing endeavor!
I love being able to share this great faith of ours and use this platform as a way to express my deep love and devotion to our Lord. We need each other, and this effort has truly become a wonderful way to connect with all of you- my brothers and sisters in Christ!
