Make Your Call Firm

     From an early age, mediocrity was something my parents warned against. Although it may seem harsh, my family was run in such a way where perfect manners and a shining report card were expected. I believe that this practice has had a tremendous positive influence on my work ethic and my overall success as a person. I was taught to rebel against a culture where being average was enough. However, I will admit the fact that this idea was something my parents preached in regards to academics and behavior. The notion that having a mediocre faith life was unacceptable was never discussed.
     I stumbled across a passage in scripture a few months back that reads, 

"Therefore brothers, be all the more eager to 

make your call and election firm, 

for in doing so, you will never stumble."  

- 2 Peter 1:10

     What really stood out to me were the words, "... make your call and election firm..." What in the world was that supposed to mean? In order to more fully understand, I tried to put it in terms that relate to the life of an average college student. As some of you may know, I am a pre-law student. My goal is to one day make it into a good law school and become an attorney. I have always understood the fact that being a mediocre student was not going to allow me to reach my goal. Although a few C's on a transcript won't stop you from obtaining a degree, you bet it will hinder your ability to make it into law school. As a result, the way I approach my schooling must be tailored given the gravity of my goal. I cannot approach my "call to schooling" in a lax way, it must be "firm" and full of purpose. I proceeded to make a list of ways in which I could make this academic call, "firm." 

Ways A Pre-Law Student Can Make His/Her Call Firm

- Attend required classes (attendance mandatory)

- Attend optional classes (attendance not mandatory), review sessions, etc.

- Learn from a mentor/ advisor 

- Always keep your goal in mind --> Allow it to affect the way you study, think, dress, behave, etc.

     I like to believe that my list (although not complete) includes behaviors that will allow me to make my academic call "firm" and protect me from falling into the temptation of mediocrity. Then I began thinking, if being a mediocre student isn't going to get me into law school in order to one day become an attorney... how could I possibly think that being a mediocre Catholic is going to prepare me to enter into heaven and achieve my goal of becoming a saint? Newsflash, it won't. However, we are living in a society where mediocrity is being not only accepted, but praised! If you tell someone that you are a college student who goes to mass every Sunday but does nothing else to feed your faith, you are still met with shocked expressions by people who admire your habits. We have to fight this. We are not made for mediocrity. We were made in the image and likeness of an amazing God who was anything but mediocre. Let's not insult His divine plan by settling for less than we can achieve. 

Ways A Catholic Can Make His/Her Call Firm

- Attend Sunday mass (attendance mandatory!!!!)

- If available, attend daily mass, bible studies, etc.

- Learn from a spiritual director/ clergy/ religiously educated lay person

- Learn from the canonized saints (Recent blueprints for the way we should be living in order to achieve our goal)

- Always keep your goal in mind --> Your faith shouldn't be one thing among many others in your life. It should be the one thing that all other aspects of your life flow from. (All things that work in accordance with God will be beneficial to you.)

     I am constantly searching for new practices to add to this list. If you have any ideas, as always please feel free to share. My prayer for all of you, as well as myself, is that we remember to work just as hard (if not harder) to make our spiritual call as firm as our academic call.