Jesus answered them,
“If I do not perform my Father’s works, do not believe me;
but if I perform them, even if you do not believe me,
believe the works, so that you may realize and understand
that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.”
~ John 10:37-38
I love watching the Golden State Warriors play their brand of basketball. There is as much grace and beauty in their plays as there is rough stuff and competitiveness. And watching this team, I realize the importance of discipline and perseverance in their success. Their star players came pretty much unheralded into the the league. Many of them had earlier injuries, some of which were potentially career-ending. Yet, with discipline and perseverance, they overcame these and became a team of championship calibre, poised to be the next power dynasty in the NBA.
The same is true in my spiritual life. While God always makes the first move, I also need to practice discipline and perseverance in building a relationship with God. It is not only about going to Mass every Sunday but being in touch and connected with God everyday. I need the discipline to make time and find space for Him in my daily life. There are days I feel lazy and wallowing in the usual and familiar. I need perseverance to spend time with Him even in the midst of the dull and the boring.
The spiritual life is as much a struggle as the physical life. Life is never easy. But to those who face it with discipline and perseverance, life endows its richness and meaning.