I’m reading a book that I’ve only recently learned about, it’s called The Values Factor, written by Dr. John Demartini. This isn’t a Catholic book, I must tell you upfront that I like to read from a variety of world views…I absorb what is for me and let go of the rest. If I discover while I’m reading it, that it’s completely contrary to my own world view, then I discard the entire book. It’s just how I do things. 😀 Anyway, I’m enjoying this one very much, its similar in some ways to the popular Love Languages book, It goes through a series of questions that leads you to reflect on what you really are all about at your core and the values that you hold the most dear so that you can live your life the most authentically. For instance you may say that your truly value something, but if for some reason you are always finding that you lack time, money, or whatever to get to it, then it’s probably not one of your higher values and could even be a societal ‘should’. I have several of those as a Portuguese woman, this may be true for all women but in my opinion it’s especially true for the Portuguese, my list of shoulds is pretty darn long. I should keep a spotless house, I should be a great cook…I should, I should, I should…and not surprising, that little voice in my head uttering these words sounds very much like my mother. The problem is that those aren’t MY highest values at all…not even close. Are you unsure of your highest values? What you need to do is look at what you already do, day in and day out. How do you spend your time, your money, you’re energy. Chances are good that barring addictions or any such thing, you are already pursuing your highest values…you just may not have put it all together yet. It’s what brings us joy and what can also potentially irritate us the most about others who don’t hold the same values as us. So this is a great way not only to learn about ourselves and our particular gifts, but to learn about others as well and come to respect and value them for what they can offer instead of what we’d like them to do. I’ve discovered that my 3 highest values are, revealing the Kingdom of God, Teaching, and Healing. In other words, the things that drive me and fill me with passion have these thing at their core. Whether it’s reflected in my parenting, my marriage, my career choices…these three things will always find its way in.
Jesus tells us in Mark 1:15 that “the time has come and the kingdom of God is at hand…repent and believe in the Gospel.” The Kingdom was established with Jesus Christ and it continues today…not merely as some future destination but very much here and now. This kingdom is for those who hold Christ as their King, living in obedience to His will. Of course while we are still living here in this world we can’t experience the fullness of the kingdom in its totality yet…but we can get glimpses of it in our daily lives. Jesus left us with all we needed for the journey. He left us His church, Sacraments and a community of believers for support (the church militant) as well as all those that have gone before us (the church penitent and triumphant) and the angels who were specifically created to help us on our way…and He sends the Holy Spirit to guide us the entire way. So the kingdom of God is home base for God’s children…the saved souls who have chosen Him, those in a state of grace and it starts here and now. However, choosing the Kingdom is a choice that we have to keep making over and over. Again..the Sacraments help us with this. How can we not desire it above all things and do all in our power to not lose it?
So…where does my highest value for revealing the kingdom come in? Well, I feel like Catholics often lose sight of this here and now aspect of our faith and we instead aim for heaven as some after life thing way down the road. It’s nice..but I can wait…let me have my fun now a la St. Augustine. But the tragic fact that many learn too late is that by not choosing heaven NOW, you lose access to all that was created purposefully for you and risk losing heaven altogether later. The graces imparted on a soul that is living totally for God can’t be compared to anything the world can give. So this is my passion…to reveal God’s Kingdom to others…wherever I see Truth, Beauty and Goodness…that’s a glimpse of the Kingdom and I want others to see and desire it too. The Lord provides the gifts…we just need to use them. So, whether via words in a blog, or perhaps my photography, it’s all to be used to glorify Him.
My Second highest value is Teaching. Looking back I remember gathering the neighborhood kids and setting up a ‘school’ where I was teacher, I didn’t know any more than they did of course, but I just had a desire to share whatever I knew. I carried this desire with me as I taught CCD as a young adult, then later on became Formation Director for my lay Carmelite community and in the past decade homeschooled my own children. I believe that what God blesses us with is to be shared and that’s not only material goods but all of His gifts…and I see all good things as coming from Him. So when I discover new things, I love to spread the word. 😀 This can easily slide into preaching sometimes, and it’s something that I have to be aware of as not everyone likes to be preached to. 😉
And finally my third highest value is that of healing which is the other great passion of mine that came about probably in middle school. It shows itself in my love for anything that is health related. I wanted to be a Pediatrician early on, then in high school I amended that to nursing. I was part of a Nurses Assistant class where we got hands on experience in the hospital and nursing homes, I loved it and felt sure that would be my journey, right after graduating I applied for nursing school and when my top choice put me on a waiting list, I gave up and went to work in the technical field instead which actually fits in well with my current gig as photographer….and is perhaps one of my highest values as well (I’m a tech nerd…studied computer science in college and love all kinds of gadgets and apps). However my passion for all things health related didn’t die there and I later on became aware of why the Lord had given me this gift to begin with when my parents later in life needed my assistance with many aspects of their health care and I assumed charge as their primary care giver. My love of healing has taken a more holistic turn these days. I believe that our bodies were intelligently created and I love studying and teaching about it every chance I get.
So whatever you enjoy doing…have another look at it…the Lord has a special purpose for you. Our highest values are like our finger prints…they are very specific to each one of us. We can perhaps share some values, but they will never be identical in precise detail. There’s only one you. So put that light of yours up on the hill, the world needs what you have to offer.
