Union with God's Will

The birds, the plants... they are fellow creatures on our shared planet. They live in the perfect union of God's Will; they live the perfect fulfilment of the purposes God set out for them. Perhaps, they do so because unlike humans, animals and plants do not have a mind that analyses nor do they have the freedom of choice since they live by their instincts. But these simplest, voiceless creatures can be very good teachers for us, humans, the apparent superior beings.

Animals go to wherever there is food; they move along according to the Providence of God in supplying the satisfaction to their hunger. Watch the birds circling in the sky; how carefree they are because they recognise who God is; they rely on God for everything they need. If God should stop providing for them, they submit themselves to death without uttering a single word of protest or complain. Observe the trees; how they take shape. Its leaves do what they are meant to - make food for the plant. Its roots play its allotted role - taking in water, holding the plant firmly to the ground. It grows wherever it is planted, and no matter what the environment, it fights for survival like a worthy warrior, braving all harsh conditions that stand in its way. The creatures in the sky do not attempt to live in the ocean; the creatures in the ocean do not try to be like those on land. In all these and more, these humble creatures seem to be perfectly united with God in their Creator-Creature relationship, each living out the fulfilment of what it was fundamental meant for.

The question that may strike us by now is "What about us?" We, too, are creatures of the same God. Yet, are we living in the union of Christ's friendship and of our Father's Will? Are we trying to hold tight onto our lives, to control it and every event and experience that we have? Do we try to shape our lives in a certain way according to what we want? Where is God in our lives? How present is He in our day? Who and what is the "god" in our lives - the real God or ourselves, our desires, dreams and personal agendas and goals? Do we "go according" to God's plan or do we try to carve out our own path of life? Do we play the role that God set out for us in our unique lives on earth? Are we in union with God?

12 July 2011, Tuesday
11.30pm