Totally Stressed?
by Shevawn Pearson
Ever hear you're too young to be stressed out about anything?
Peer pressure, trust issues, friendships, gossip, parents' expectations,
after school jobs, juggling your time, independence issues-these
are all major sources of stress, it's true. If three little words
could significantly reduce your stress levels, would you take
them to heart?
Seek His Face
"Keep the #1 thing, the #1 thing" and "Don't sweat
the small stuff." Popular self-help books coach us with
their mantras attempting to bring perspective to our lives riddled
with stress and anxiety.
The Bible-the greatest self-help book of all time-holds the secret
to sanity in our restless age with these three little words,
"Seek his face" (Ps: 105). Like Martha in Luke's Gospel,
we so easily become "anxious and troubled about many things."
Jesus calms our little "anxiety attacks" and puts everything
into perspective when he gently reminds us: "only one thing
is necessary" (Luke 10:41-42).
JPII Says, JUST BE
Pope John Paul II offers timeless wisdom in his apostolic letter,
Novo Millennio Ineunte, when
he states: "Ours is a time of continual movement which often
leads to restlessness, with the risk of 'doing for the sake of
doing.' We must resist this temptation by trying 'to be' before
trying 'to do.'The men and women of today ask believers not only
to 'speak' of Christ, but in a certain sense to 'show' him to
them. Our witness, however, would be hopelessly inadequate if
we ourselves had not first contemplated his face."
Peace!
As MI Knight-Lights in a darkened world, we heed the Pope's advice
and seek the face of Christ We seek His awesome face in the Eucharist,
at Mass and in adoration. We seek his face of mercy in the Sacrament
of Reconciliation. We seek His face of unconditional love, becoming
His reflection to all those we meet: to the depressed classmate;
to family members who misunderstand us; to employers who fail
to recognize us; to co-workers who resent our standards and beliefs.
In every circumstance we seek His face, because in Him we find
the peace that only He can give: "Peace I leave with you;
my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives.
Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."
-Jesus Christ
Our world-your world-desperately
needs to be touched and transformed by the beauty and richness
of God's love. Your mission is sacred! May the face of Christ
shine brightly in you, valiant Knight of the Kingdom!
(c) Copyright 1998-2004 The Militia
of the Immaculata. All rights reserved.
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