Choice and Attitude
“What profit is there for one to gain the whole world, yet lose or forfeit himself."
In the first reading, Moses presents the perils of choosing “other gods” in our life. These “other gods” can lead us astray and a short life. These “other gods” can come in many forms such as wealth, power, fame, materialism and other obsessions. Viktor Frankl, author of Man’s Search for Meaning and the first unit of Sophomore Theology this semester, talks about how the unyielding pursuit for things that we think make us happy, for these “other gods,” ultimately leads to unfulfillment. Instead, Frankl focuses on choices --- and how happiness should come from the choices we make. We are happy by the choice, not necessarily by what we get by that choice.
Frankl is a holocaust survivor. He has seen firsthand how the human person can be driven to their lowest existence. The prisoners in the concentration camp have lost their freedom, family, friends, professions, possessions, safety… anything that makes a person happy. Those who have attached their entire being to these things, did not last long in the camps. Yet Frankl maintains that a person can still be happy---or can still find a reason to continue living. The prisoners who survived were the ones who chose to hope and love and it is precisely by that choosing to live, that they sustained their life.
Going back to Moses’ message, we need to choose God, our Lord, and in doing so, we will discover true, life-giving happiness. The gospel of Luke also invites us to choose Christ by denying oneself, or denying the “other gods” in our life.
One more point of reflection from today’s readings about our ability to “choose.”
Frankl accepts that life is not always within our control. Inasmuch as we want our lives to go smoothly and without much suffering, that is not always going to be the case. As a result, we may assume that we have no control over our lives, but Frankl counters that we will always still have one choice---that is our attitude in the face of suffering. In his time at a concentration camp, Frankl recounts moments of being dehumanized at the hands of the prison guards. Frankl did not choose to suffer like this, instead he chose how he will face his suffering and that is with courage and hope that he will see through the suffering. Frankl’s resolve held on and he was eventually liberated from his captivity.
In “denying” ourselves, we also let go of the things we do not have control over. We may not have a say when suffering in life can happen or end, but we can always choose how to face the challenges in our life. May we also choose courage, hope, and always choose our God of life and true happiness.
Author: Kenneth Gan, Theology Department and Campus Ministry Team
Going back to Moses’ message, we need to choose God, our Lord, and in doing so, we will discover true, life-giving happiness. The gospel of Luke also invites us to choose Christ by denying oneself, or denying the “other gods” in our life.
One more point of reflection from today’s readings about our ability to “choose.”
Frankl accepts that life is not always within our control. Inasmuch as we want our lives to go smoothly and without much suffering, that is not always going to be the case. As a result, we may assume that we have no control over our lives, but Frankl counters that we will always still have one choice---that is our attitude in the face of suffering. In his time at a concentration camp, Frankl recounts moments of being dehumanized at the hands of the prison guards. Frankl did not choose to suffer like this, instead he chose how he will face his suffering and that is with courage and hope that he will see through the suffering. Frankl’s resolve held on and he was eventually liberated from his captivity.
In “denying” ourselves, we also let go of the things we do not have control over. We may not have a say when suffering in life can happen or end, but we can always choose how to face the challenges in our life. May we also choose courage, hope, and always choose our God of life and true happiness.
Very well said and so appropriate for our times. Thank you.
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