What Would You Die For?

Given the current events, it’s a good reminder for me (and I hope for us all) to think about how precious life is and the purpose of it.  When I challenge myself on what the purpose of my life is, I often have to remind myself on what I would die for.  First and foremost, there’s my big-V vocation, my wife Mimi.  I will die so she can be taken care of spiritually, emotionally, mentally, physically, and financially all within my means.  It is my first goal in life to get her to heaven.  I will die for my children one day, to take care of them spiritually, emotionally, mentally, physically, and financially all within my means.  If I simply become a grandfather who dies one day with grandchildren who received virtues from their parents, my children, and on my death bed is a celebration of a man who genuinely cared for the very best for them, so be it.  If my wife one day looks at me on our 50^th anniversary and tells me she loves me more that day than any day and thanks me for serving her my entire life, so be it.

100 years from now we will be here.
What impression will we leave behind?

But what else?  What about that small-v vocation, the purpose of who and why I am?  I’ve written and hinted at this many times, but it’s good for me to constantly remind myself.

I would die for a world of men that rise up, that find their passions and purpose, and live lives of service to their loved ones, family, brethren and society through these talents.

Imagine a world of men who know who they are, whose they are, who are committed to their spouses and children.  I would die for it. 

Imagine a world of men who become the best doctors, writers, basketball players, fishermen, businessmen, chefs or lawyers following the best practices.  I would die for it. 

Imagine a world of men who have spouses that never wonder if he would cheat or leave them.  I would die for it.

 Imagine a world of men who take responsibility for their actions.  I would die for it.

A world where daughters know their loved by their fathers.

Imagine a world of men who have daughters who never wonder if daddy loves them.  I would die for it.

Imagine a world of men who have sons who know who their father is, and are proud to carry his name.  I would die for it. 

Imagine a world of men who know what sex is for---both union and procreation---and are able to practice it and pass on this virtue to the next generation.  I would die for it. 

Imagine a world of men who understand that strength comes from humility, and allow themselves to rely on others and on God.  I would die for it. 

Imagine a world of men who love with true freedom and give more than what’s expected from them.  I would die for it.

Imagine a world of men who have a personal relationship with God the Father, and seek Him in all things and all decisions.  I would die for it. 

   Imagine your perfect world.  What would you die for?

By knowing what we would die for, we know with greater purpose what would we would live for, and form our lives accordingly.  Here’s a strong example.  When I went to Costa Rica, our Francis Corps director Bro. Jim told us that he wants our community to pray every day together. I didn’t believe it would happen.  Though months of praying with my beloved four other housemates made me believe that it IS possible for a community of people to pray every night together.  I decided after that year that I wanted that to continue in my next community---my family.  And I decided that if I wanted to pray with my children every night, I would first have to learn how to pray with my wife every night.  If I wanted to pray with my wife every night, I would first have to learn how to pray with whoever I dated every night.  As I decided this when I was single, I realized that if I want to pray with whoever I would end up dating every night, I first would need to learn how to pray with myself every night.  And from there, it was my decision to learn how to pray every night, so I could then easily share that with whoever I dated, so it would be a seamless transition to pray together once we’re married, which would then be a seamless transition to pray with our children once we had them. 

For men, I believe we have to be motivated by others, even if they do not exist yet.  Everything we do now has a ramification for the present and the future.  What kind of legacy do we want to leave?  What kind of ripple effect do we want to have?  Everything we do and not do, can have positive ramifications.  It’s our choice to make every choice in our everyday lives cause positive consequences.  We cannot be perfect, but we can create habits which can therefore create attitudes which can therefore create character.  If we imagine the type of person we want our children to be, with faith, with character, with moral compass, we first must encompass it.

What do you believe in? What would you die for? What would you live for?  Dear friend, I would lay my life for you to realize these three things, to carry them with fervor so you can become the best version of yourself, so you can serve and build this kingdom of God.  Believe it, die for it, and therefore live for it.

Amén.