IT'S THE SMALL THINGS

For many, Holy week is a time of reflection and introspection. A time to think about what we can change about ourselves, our lives, our perspectives, thoughts and feelings. More than just a vacation because of the many days we have off, regardless of our religion, we can take it as an opportunity to strengthen our faith in solitude through pockets of quiet time. We can take this time to re-charge and rejuvenate – to somehow disconnect from the rest of the world, and be present in the moment – whether alone, or with the people we have chosen to spend it with.
It is only when we choose to humble ourselves that we sometimes realize the truth – that we gain an alternative perspective to so many things, especially our own actions. Oftentimes, it is in the midst of hardships and challenges that we find ourselves on bended knee asking our Lord for His mercy and help in whatever it is we are facing. It is in these moments that our faith is strengthened, and though we must come to terms with the fact that our prayers may not always be answered in the way we want them to be, or that we expect them to, that in the end, we must always surrender to God’s greater plan because that is the plan that drives us through, and this is why we need the faith – to navigate us and keep us resilient amidst all odds.
But at the end of the day, as mortals on earth, we also have control over our decisions. We set our own standards, and we deserve what we tolerate. We must be accountable for our actions, and if we did not elicit the most positive of experiences, then we learn from it. At the end of the day, we will never be able to escape problems, challenges and hardships forever – perhaps in a Utopian world we could, but that is not reality. What will eventually define us is how we choose to address these situations – our reactions and words.
I once heard a priest say in his homily that God’s strength is made perfect in our weakness, and I totally could not agree more. These words did not only stick with me, they heavily resonated. I realized that it is when we are at our most anxious that we tend to call on God, and that our trust is magnified. It is indeed when we are at our weakest that God is working the most within us, and pruning us. He is re-introducing us to our very core – our very purpose, reason and being. It is in our lowest moment that we find ourselves having the strongest dependency in our Lord.
Holy Week or not, let us remember to be consistent. To consistently build and strengthen our relationship with the Lord. Consistency is key. Let us not only choose to turn to Him in our moments of weakness, but let us remember to rejoice with him in our triumphant ones as well. Happy Easter, everyone!