Living God’s dream in the environment God chose for you

No one chose to be born. No one chose to be born now. No one selected the place where one was born. No one selected the environment. No one selected one’s childhood friends or one’s primary education. There is no ideal situation. The poor might complain that they are poor. The rich might see their richness as a disadvantage as well. As you grow older, you can than start choosing. You can be attentive to certain opportunities. You can start deciding.

Now, being aware that “No one can believe alone, just as no one can live alone” (CCC 166), I invite you to commit to surrounding yourself with happy and wonderful people that like you are striving to discover and live God’s dream for them, let them be your example and support like the first Christians who supported each other in faith  (see, Philippians 3:17; 2 Thessalonians 3:7, 9; Hebrews 6:12; 13:7).

Fill your mind with the examples of the saints, since “When we look at the lives of those who have faithfully followed Christ, we are inspired with a new reason for seeking the City that is to come (cf. Hebrews 13:14; 11:10) and at the same time we are shown the safest path by which among the vicissitudes of this world, in keeping with the state in life and condition proper to each of us, we will be able to arrive at perfect union with Christ, that is, perfect holiness” (Lumen Gentium, n. 50).

God’s dream in you is like a seed, full of gifts, talents, potential. But if you plant yourself in unhealthy soil; if you hang around friends that compromise you with the mentality of the world (cf. Romans 12:2), that can pull you down; if you regularly feed your mind on the internet with negative news or negative behaviours; if you live in an environment that it is limited to people that continuously suppress you, tell you what you cannot become instead of who you could be, it is difficult to see the growth that you should.

So take your time now to acknowledge the opportunities that you have, the people, the experiences, the knowledge, the communities that are available to you as a resource to this process of conversion leading you to acknowledge and share God’s Dream.