A Life Fully Alive
By Catherine Gilmore
What does it mean to be human? What does it mean to be fully alive? What is virtue? What is human flourishing?
These were questions that were earnestly and incessantly asked of me and my peers during my time at a small liberal arts school. These were the questions echoed across campus, in and out of classrooms dedicated to history and economics, literature and language, and politics and theology, all through years of study and laughter. They were questions that were constantly reiterated so that when we left the warmth and safety of that beautiful place, they would echo in our minds and hearts.
When we walked across that graduation stage and into the real world, we prided ourselves on being “liberally arted” and “seekers of truth and justice.” We held the questions of human virtue and human flourishing within our deepest being. We were ready to take on the harsh world and live intentional lives founded upon truth, beauty, and goodness.
But now, almost four years later, amidst chaos, uncertainty, and doubt, these fundamental questions beg to be asked once again. And maybe asked just a little bit louder: How do I, right here and now, live a life that is full and flourishing? How do I, with all this mess around me and within me, cultivate virtue and live an intentional life? How do I choose truth, beauty, and goodness when the darkness makes it so difficult to see?
Although these musings are nothing new or extraordinarily profound, perhaps they are a way for me to remind myself of what I’ve learned and some things that I need to bring to the present once again. At the heart of the matter is the importance of asking these questions of myself so that I can give glory to Him each day, for Saint Irenaeus said,“The glory of God is man fully alive.”
Live a life that is wholly and unapologetically for Christ and in Christ.
In an unsteady and disconcerting world, throw yourself into His arms, lean on His chest as Saint John did (John 13:23), and listen to His heartbeat. It is so steady. It is reassuring. It is safe. Run to His Church and trust that He has sent His Holy Spirit to guide and sustain us when we cannot sustain ourselves. Stay close to the Sacraments and find your rhythm of life in His life-giving heartbeat.
“An unexamined life is not worth living” -Plato
We don’t have the luxury of neglecting introspection any longer. In a world full of relativism and irresponsibility, it is time to own our stories, seek truth and healing, and learn from our wounds. Sit in His presence and ponder, question, accept, and learn. Take your thoughts and feelings captive to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5) and ask Christ, “What do You think about this? Is this true? Is this voice in my head Your voice?” Then sit and listen to His soft voice in the depths of your heart. Press your wounds to His sacred wounds and find joy there. Think about it, when our Savior rose from the dead and He showed His disciples His wounds, they rejoiced (John 20:20). He did not say, “Here! Look at my glorious perfection and all the wholeness!” No, He wanted His disciples to look at His wounds because there is freedom and glory within them. He will do that with our wounds too, He will heal and transform them with merciful love, bringing us actual joy.
Serve
Serve your people. Serve a stranger. Serve your enemy. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you how you can show up and love those around you. Send a card, make dinner, buy the coffee, listen with your heart, take time to read that picture book just one more time, be hospitable, offer your best, don’t hold back your talents. Serve where you can. Serve with a smile.
Find the Beauty
Beauty is everywhere and all it takes is a small moment to lean in and let it transform you. Contemplate that stunning painting, smell the flowers when you walk by, gaze at the moon, go on a hike, let the music bring you to dancing, or read some poetry. The world is full of beauty, don’t forget to stop and be amazed.
Practice gratitude
It is indeed a practice. Gratitude is not usually a natural reaction when things are going wrong and life is really hard. Be intentional about being thankful. Thank a friend for listening to your struggles, thank a coworker for helping you with a project, thank God for all His gifts, the big ones and the minuscule ones. Take time each day to fill a glass jar with things you are grateful for. You can be grateful for even the smallest things: coffee, vanilla chapstick, dandelions, board games, gluten free pasta, books, and sidewalks.
So let’s stop, slow down and come back. Let’s come back to these fundamental questions and take time to actually answer them in our lives right now, as they are. Let us strive to be more human and more divine as we live intentional and vibrant Christian lives. When the darkness presses in, stay close to Him and His people. Serve with gratitude and notice the beauty. We have only one job – to be great saints! Let us begin.
