On Thursday morning, flying into Charlotte, one of the flight attendants made the announcement about luggage, as they always do. The statement she shared was, “if Charlotte is your final destination, you can pick up your luggage at carousel one and if it’s not your final destination, it will be at your next stop.” Hearing this reminded me of the journey we take through our lives. How many people live like earth is the final destination, like eternal life doesn’t exist?
The human experience for many people consists simply of focusing on the next big achievement. People are constantly looking to fill the hole in their lives with a higher-paying job, a fancier car, a bigger house, and more. It can become a race to the top, a comparison of who can become richer, more successful, more popular. People so often find their meaning and purpose in status and material possessions, making them their God. How much time do we spend stressing about things that really don’t matter, about things that are temporary?
At mass Sunday morning, the priest gave a great homily, reminding us that we are called to a higher way of living. One thing he mentioned was that we are called to imitate Jesus, working to advance the Kingdom here on earth through the way we live and interact with others. This was a reminder that if we are followers of Christ, our lives should bear fruit that is a reflection of our belief and faith in Him.
Accomplishing great achievements is not bad. But we should not get wrapped up in worrying about what we do for our own benefit, living as if that’s all there is to life. Rather, we should focus on what we are doing for Jesus, keeping our eyes fixed on Him and His kingdom.
Our greatest desire should be to hear Jesus say to us, “well done, good and faithful servant.” We must always remember that this life is not our final destination, but rather that it is the journey we must take to grow in our faith and love for Jesus and others. My prayer for each of us today is that we would travel well, so that we can arrive at the final destination we were made for!
Faith and The Good Stuff 