Obligations
Have you ever wondered what the world would be like without obligations? That maybe, without these obligations, we would be freer to do things as we please, at any time, and at any place? However wouldn't that result to chaos and disorder in the long run? Then again, are these obligations that we speak of related to the general order of the world in the larger way? And if so, HOW are they related?
I am thinking out loud again, and I find myself in a puzzle. If I choose to ignore my obligations, such as my work, my travel plans this week and my teaching job next week and just take off and literally let the wind carry me to my next destination- what would happen? Let's see, I probably wouldn't get fired by my dad, though I would get a scolding for wasting perfectly arranged plane tickets for two. As for Ateneo, yes, I probably would be replaced if I failed to return for a number of unannounced days. At home, things would run well without me. My perfectly trained and capable sister Tina could help my mom run the household and do my chores, and my siblings realistically can take care of my dog while I am away. Then again, I would probably also be scolded for just taking off unscheduled.
At the end of it all, the answer is quite clear, I can choose to ignore my so-called obligations, and life around me will still run the way it was designed to. The next question is whether or not I want to let go of them. Then again, who wants to be burdened by these obligations that leave us tired and weary most of the time?
The answer is simple. We all want it. You do, I do, We all do. Whether its reasons of self-importance or self-growth or the numerous other reasons out there, obligations give people a sense of well-being, but more than that, a sense of fulfilment. And it is when we are fulfiled that we are sated.
Now, having said all that, I think it all boils down to choosing our obligations. It is no longer choosing whether we want to perform our obligations, but choosing obligations per se be it moral or social obligations. I ask myself this time, whether I choose to involve myself in obligations with regard to serving God. The automatic answer would be "yes!! I attend Sunday masses!"- but does that really suffice? (especially if hypothetically I spent the majority of the Mass thinking about other things)
The thing is, I want to involve God in all my obligations. And yes, it is perfectly doable and possible. And it is something I want and I'm writing about because I want to be reminded of it each time I whine, complain or ponder about yet another obligation. My obligations will only have meaning if God is involved, and it will only have fulfilment if accomplished with God.
I can only pray for the success of this endeavor.
I am thinking out loud again, and I find myself in a puzzle. If I choose to ignore my obligations, such as my work, my travel plans this week and my teaching job next week and just take off and literally let the wind carry me to my next destination- what would happen? Let's see, I probably wouldn't get fired by my dad, though I would get a scolding for wasting perfectly arranged plane tickets for two. As for Ateneo, yes, I probably would be replaced if I failed to return for a number of unannounced days. At home, things would run well without me. My perfectly trained and capable sister Tina could help my mom run the household and do my chores, and my siblings realistically can take care of my dog while I am away. Then again, I would probably also be scolded for just taking off unscheduled.
At the end of it all, the answer is quite clear, I can choose to ignore my so-called obligations, and life around me will still run the way it was designed to. The next question is whether or not I want to let go of them. Then again, who wants to be burdened by these obligations that leave us tired and weary most of the time?
The answer is simple. We all want it. You do, I do, We all do. Whether its reasons of self-importance or self-growth or the numerous other reasons out there, obligations give people a sense of well-being, but more than that, a sense of fulfilment. And it is when we are fulfiled that we are sated.
Now, having said all that, I think it all boils down to choosing our obligations. It is no longer choosing whether we want to perform our obligations, but choosing obligations per se be it moral or social obligations. I ask myself this time, whether I choose to involve myself in obligations with regard to serving God. The automatic answer would be "yes!! I attend Sunday masses!"- but does that really suffice? (especially if hypothetically I spent the majority of the Mass thinking about other things)
The thing is, I want to involve God in all my obligations. And yes, it is perfectly doable and possible. And it is something I want and I'm writing about because I want to be reminded of it each time I whine, complain or ponder about yet another obligation. My obligations will only have meaning if God is involved, and it will only have fulfilment if accomplished with God.
I can only pray for the success of this endeavor.
posted by kath | 12:34 PM
1 Comments:
I see that when it comes to obligations, it's all about your family and nothing else. that's cool. it's your decision like you said. in your case when it comes to worldly obligations, it's your family that only matters. that's the circle of your world or that is your only world. it's your secondary telos
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