Fellow Marshallans, permit me to thank the organizers for giving me the opportunity to share my views with you on this all-important subject.
The Oxford dictionary defines challenge as “A call to someone to participate in a competitive situation or fight to decide who is superior in terms of ability or strength”. There is no doubt that most of us have never lived through times as tough as these. The economic crisis, energy challenges, rising food costs, climate change, and water pollution and shortages have all converged to make it a very challenging time. There are other challenging issues that confront us today and which threaten our faith as devout Catholics and Marshallans.
One of the challenges that come to mind is parenting and more if the child has special problems such as being autistic. The issues about this has to do with providing protection for children, problems of teenagers, schooling particularly challenging if one lives in the city with its attendant traffic congestion. More challenging is after a traumatic event such as losing a family member.
Closely related to this is the challenging behaviours in our relationships. I can speak of children who cannot stay in control, couples who have had to stay apart because of working conditions and locations etc.
For our young Marshallans, the issue of literacy and continuing education has ever presented more challenges than ever. More people have tended to go back to continue their education if they are to survive in this competitive world. Teachers in particular and other workers in general have taken advantage of the opportunities offered in continuing education to better their lots. This means working, attending lectures over the weekend, studying and writing for their exams. All these have to be done in addition to maintaining their homes. The consequences of all these for their participation in Marshallan activities cannot be over-stretched.
Let’s face fact. We are exposed to an alarming amount of toxins on a daily basis. From the BPA that lines your canned goods to the pesticides liberally sprayed on anything alive these days. Our bodies are therefore constantly absorbing an outrageous amount of chemicals.Even though you may try to live as pure a life as possible, sneaky sources of dangerous metals are everywhere, even in the so-called “all natural” products that fool consumers into believing these ingredients are safe. Over time, high concentrations of metals can build up in our systems and can lead to a wide variety of conditions, including, but not limited to, anemia, fatigue, joint or muscle aches, blood pressure issues, vitamin and mineral deficiencies
One other issue facing us is the lifestyle choices we make – smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, late eating, little or no exercise leading to rising rate of obesity, diabetes and other health related problems associated with mental health and social care needs which undiagnosed and untreated leads to poorer health outcomes including high rate mortality and morbidity. These present challenges for our staying healthy and fit-for-work.
From where you live as a tenant or landlord, to how you and power your home, to producing your own food, controlling water, these challenges can become a stumbling block to living our faith as Marshallans and what we do – charity work, church support, funding seminaries and spiritual growth.
But it is not all dark and gloom as these challenging times can be seen to providing a tremendous opportunity for personal growth while giving your soul the joy to return to a saner pace in your life so that you can relive your faith as a Marshallan.
Mohammed Ali, the famous boxer once said “It’s lack of faith that makes people afraid of meeting challengesand I believed in myself” Through perseverance one can overcome challenges and difficulties. Lord Chesterfield once said ‘a man of sense is never discouraged by difficulties; he doubles his industry and his diligence, he preserves and infallibly prevails at last.’ Pay as little attention to discouragement as possible, plough ahead as a steamer does, rough or smooth, rain or shine and like Mohammed Ali, believe in yourself.
Sandy East suggests 9 ways by which we can deal with challenging times and l would like to share that with you
If you’re not also dealing with a challenging time, these guidelines may help you, too.
Assert your goals.When everything seems to have fallen apart, realize you still have options, and then assert exactly what you want for yourself. Try and rediscover yourself by writing, teaching, painting etc. Set goals and work towards achieving them and things do not work out well deal with positively. Give yourself a break discuss it with a friend, and do whatever you need to do to get clarity, and then you will re-assess
Focus on everything that’s working.Don’t dwell on everything you think your life lacks. Instead, pay attention to what’s going right. Note that Negativity is not constructive. Seek new opportunities to use your skills
Take action. “Do all that you can do in a day” simply and pro-actively. This doesn’t mean setting unrealistic expectations about what you can accomplish in a day, and ultimately feeling dissatisfied. It means using the time you have well—and more effectively with each passing day. It helps to start the day with a prioritized to-do list, and aim to complete at least five important tasks each day.
Create balance.Do something for your mind, body, and soul every day. Read, solve a puzzle, or learn another language. Get air, light, and space; walk, run, dance, stretch. Meditate, listen to soothing music, and laugh with friends. Attend to all of yourself on a daily basis.
Take time to do things just for you, whether it’s going to a gallery or singing loudly. Make time to do things for people you love, like cooking an extravagant meal for a group of friends. And leave a little time to do something for the universe.
Embrace fear.Let that fear become a positive energy that moves you forward.
Be bold and note that you are capable and brave. Don’t allow other people’s fear to bog you down, and if it does then find a way of letting it go. Write it out; burn words in a bowl; see the person you know will lift you. Don’t hold onto fear.
If you feel restricted then ask yourselfwhatis the way forward. Explore what you can do to change the situation, and see who or what might be able to aide you. Seek. Ask. Share. Sometimes letting go and redirecting your attention elsewhere can be the most useful action to take.
Practice Gratitude. Look back on your day and highlight five things that made it brighter—people, treats, realizations. Remember to thank the people who have supported you.
Improve on yesterday. Do something that will make today better than what’s come before. What do you feel you missed out on? Can you do something about that now? Yes? Do it!
Don’t give up. You might stumble but know that you’ll be okay as long as you learn, act, and remember that you already have all that you need.
‘Live in the now’ View yourself as other positive people view you. Recognize what you’re doing well, instead of dwelling on what you wish you did better.
The following are suggestions that will help live our faith as Marshallans
Make time for prayer by reflecting on the blessings and challenges of being a human being. Make prayer a part of your daily life. Use personal prayer, the Scriptures, meditation, and the Liturgy of the Hours.Schedule a personal or group retreat.
Practice forgiveness by learning to forgive and be forgiven. Examine your conscience, and practice fasting and sacrifice. The Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation.
Celebrate the Eucharist by actively participating each Sunday. Register, and if you’ve already done so, look for ways to get more involved in the liturgy as a lector, Eucharistic minister, usher, musician, or choir member.
Live a just life by treating all people with the dignity they deserve as sons and daughters of God. Look for ways to simplify your life and share what you have with others. Read about the corporal and spiritual works of mercy. Follow current events.
Help the poor by looking into local service opportunities or other ways your gifts can be used in service to others especially on Holy Thursday. Practice charity by assisting those living in poverty, and promote community-based solutions for injustice and poverty.
Share faith by talking about God’s presence in your life with other people; be an evangelizer. Look for opportunities to invite others to experience your faith community.
Join a small Christian community by joining a small faith group to receive support to live your faith.If one does not exist, form one of your own. Gather regularly for prayer, faith sharing, and community.
Know your faith by looking for opportunities for education. Visit a good bookstore or the Internet for Church.
Let me leave you with a few quotations from the scriptures on how to live your faith as Marshallans
- Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things. (Phil 4:7-8)
- Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else. Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thes 5:15-18)
- The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other. (Gal 5:2-26)
- Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Col 3:15-17)
- Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus”. (Philippians 4:6-7)
- For you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” (James 1:3-4)
In conclusion I would like to state that the way by which we hope to reach the height of faith as Marshallans is to arrive there by the assistance of a ladder, in scriptures called Jacob’s ladder. It consists of many staves or rounds, which point to many moral virtues but three principal ones which are Faith, Hope and Charity. Faith in God; Hope in salvation; and to be in Charity with all persons. It reaches to the heaven and rests on the Holy Bible, because by the doctrines contained in that Holy Book we are taught to believe in the dispensations of Divine Providence, which belief strengthens our faith and enables us to ascend the first step. For it is written in the scriptures that “we walk by faith and not by sight”
We should be guided by the faith exhibited by the one the Society was named after, Sir James Marshall, who from the position of an Anglican Clergyman never regretted embracing the Catholic faith. He lived the Faith and his inner self was never ruffled, for he writes in a letter (1863): “I am still at the school of Egbaston, and believe myself to be one of the happiest creatures on earth”.
Long live our Catholic Faith
Long live the Noble Order of the Knights and Ladies of Marshall.
Thank you and God bless you.