Commitment and Involvement

rpstoledosj

Jul 2

The pig and chicken were great friends. One day the chicken approached the pig and suggested that they start a restaurant together. The pig said, "I'm not so sure about this idea. What would we call it?" The chicken replied, "I think 'Ham and Eggs' would be a good name." The pig responded, "Definitely not! I would be committed, but you would only be involved."[1]

The moral of this story is that there is a difference between involvement and commitment. For the chicken, starting a restaurant would mean doing what a chicken regularly does, which is to lay an egg every day as a contribution to the menu. For the pig, it would mean being slaughtered. Ham consists of the thigh of a pig. Cutting of the two thighs of the pig to produce two hams would kill the pig. Hence contributing a ham means the pig loses its life. That is commitment.

Following Christ means that a person who believes in Christ must be ready to measure everything in relation to the how one's life is lived according to what our Lord asks.

To emphasize this teaching, our Lord used the example of family. For the Jews of his time, no person could survive long without family. Our Lord was in effect saying that everything, including relationships, have to be evaluated according to one's relationship with God. A disciple would freely give up one's life for God.

This was a very real concern for the Christians of that time for there was active persecution.

Where does that put us who are not in a situation of persecution but are free to practice our faith?

Let me share a story.

Once upon a time, there was a secluded island where all the feelings lived. Happiness, Sadness, Anger, Trust, the rest of all the feelings, and all others that accompany feelings, including Love and Time. As long as they lived, everyone in the world was able to help them. But then, one day, it was announced that the island was going to sink, so they all had to vacate the island as soon as possible or die, and with their deaths, everyone in the world would lose them forever. All the feelings and company quickly began to prepare to leave as soon as possible. Love was the only one who decided to stay until the island would start to sink.

But when the moment came, and Love wanted to leave, it found itself without a boat. Someone else must have taken it. Love started to worry, and then suddenly, it saw Wealth. As Wealth was passing by it in its most beautiful boat, Love said, "Wealth, can you take me with you?" Wealth answered. "No, I can't. There is a lot of gold and silver in my boat, and sadly there is no place here for you." Next, Love saw Vanity who was also passing by, "Vanity, please help me!" pleaded Love. "I can't help you, Love. You are all wet and would damage my boat if I take you in," Vanity answered. Sadness was close by, so Love asked for help, "Sadness, let me go with you." Sadness unwillingly responded, "Oh . . Love, I am so sad that I prefer to go alone!"

Happiness passed by Love too, but she was so happy and cheerful that she did not hear when Love called her! Love was in disbelief. It was doomed to go down with the island, but suddenly there was an elderly voice, "Come. Love. I will take you." Love became so happy that he even forgot that he even forgot to ask the elder her name. When they arrived at dry land, the elder went on her own way. Love came across Knowledge and asked him if he knew who was the elder that helped him. "It was Time, answered Knowledge. "Time? But why did Time help me?" asked Love. "Because only Time is capable of understanding how valuable Love is," answered Knowledge. Love and Time became inseparable, even though many people forget about the importance of them together and ignore one when when taking care of the other.[2]

Time tests commitment.

There are signs of a true commitment. A wedding site talks about these signs.[3]

You Talk About Your Relationship's Hopes and Expectations
You Make Plans for the Future
You Both Put in Effort
You See a Future Together
You Know How to Support Each Other

God reveals His side of the relationship with us.

He has His hopes for us, that we may choose to be with Him so that we can be truly happy.
He makes plans for our future
He puts in effort by making up for the many times we are inadequate in our response to His grace.
He wants a future with us in Heaven.
He wants to support us.

What about our side of the relationship with God? Does it meet the tests of time? As time goes on,

Do we pray regularly so that our relationship with God is such that our hopes and expectations are His hopes and expectations for us?
Do our plans for the future include God's desires for us? Do our plans consider how we can become better sisters and brothers to each other?
Do we put in effort, i.e., we don't allow setbacks to keep us from always trying to do what is right even if it is not the popular thing to do?
Do we look forward to becoming a saint? Do we act the way our favorite saints would, if they were in a situation similar to ours?
Do we allow God to support us through friends and relatives whose advice almost always lead us to do what is right, through the help of friends and relatives who share the same love for God that we want to nurture in our lives? Are we willing to be helped? Are we willing to listen to God's words to us in prayer and through the teachings of the Church?

We need to constantly remember that

. . . whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it.and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

Matthew 10, 38 - 39

And that no effort to see Christ more clearly, love Him more dearly and follow Him more closely is ever wasted. For

. . . whoever gives only a cup of cold water to one of these little ones to drink because the little one is a disciple — amen, I say to you, he will surely not lose his reward.

Matthew 10, 42

[1] https://happinessofpursuits.com/fable-chicken-pig/

[2] https://purposefocuscommitment.com/story-about-happiness-love-and-time-parable/

[3] https://www.theknot.com/content/committed-relationship

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