What we fish for, we will get. Is there a universal truth in this?
I can share my personal experience with online shopping.
At times, I like to shop online for purses, kitchen items, or whatever else we need. However, I have noticed that when I log on to the internet, I am bombarded with product ads without fail, especially for the items that I had viewed earlier.
Whether I did or did not make a purchase, or if I already kept the item in my cart to compare prices and continue shopping around, I still see ads for that product and similar items everywhere on the internet. I have to add that there have been occasions when performing a search online, suggested search topics appear in the search bar. Initially, this was creepy, but I got used to it as I learned more about the algorithms.
I am not saying that the Internet is not a safe place to do things. In fact, the Internet is helpful in many ways. What would normally take hours with traditional shopping—hopping from one store to another in a mall—can now be done in the comfort of our homes, saving us driving time and gas money.
What about dining out? We can eliminate that and save money. While shopping in stores can be enjoyable, waiting in long lines and finding a parking spot can be draining. We often require refreshments in such situations, at least before we head back to our car. However, when we shop online, we don't have to worry about any of these issues.
As with most things, there is always a trade-off between using the Internet and traditional methods. It is up to us to leverage the Internet and protect our privacy and security online. Alright, I may have digressed a little.
Anyway, back to the question above, with this World Wide Web truth in mind, it is pretty suggestive that we get more of what we seek based on the example of online shopping.
Directing that on the topic of growing my spirituality—of deepening my understanding of the traditions we have in our Church and the scriptures, especially around Advent and Lent, if we truly want to know more about our God, if we truly want to spend a chunk of our time with God, so we don’t remain cradle Christians in our faith—God reveals Himself to us. He allows us to get to know Him a little deeper each time.
As believers, we understand that our ultimate purpose in this world is to connect with the divine. We were created by God to know and genuinely love Him like He is someone we can see so that we may gain a deeper appreciation for the gift of life that has been bestowed upon us. It is with this understanding that we can navigate both the challenges and opportunities that come our way with a sense of purpose and clarity.
Acknowledging this truth can help us discover genuine satisfaction and lead a life with meaning and purpose. Ideally, that is how life should be lived. However, there are times when we miss out on this and find ourselves living a life that is not aligned with our desires. In these moments, we may forget the reason behind our existence. We may also overlook the fact that every season of life presents an opportunity to deepen our relationship with God.
To me, if we are blessed enough to live long enough to gain a better understanding of life and God, I see life as a large box containing many smaller boxes, each beautifully wrapped like a gift within a gift. In this case, it is like having many gifts to unwrap throughout our lifetime, making life exciting because there is always a new box to open. Who doesn't love opening presents? I don't know anyone who doesn't, to be honest.
I also would like to say that it makes sense to consider that individual gifts we get are carefully selected based on our purpose or calling in life. This is because we have unique talents, skills, and qualities that make us who we are. Therefore, the items in our gifts are specific to each of us—to our individual strengths, passions, and aspirations, and are intended to help us further develop and grow in these areas.
By staying true to ourselves, we can tap into our full potential and achieve our goals. Interestingly, I heard a pastor on the TV programming I watched today that we need to know God’s purpose for us, and why we are here as sent by Him. For if we don’t, we will never reach our full potential. I, for one, needed to hear that.
This is what I’ve been meaning to say: If we have a desire to live our lives according to God's plan, it is possible with the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit helps us discern and intercedes for us, so we can continue to find our way towards where God wants us to go.
If it matters to us to know God more, to spend more time with Him, He will send us opportunity upon opportunity throughout the day, day in and day out. In the same way, what the Internet is doing, capturing and analyzing our behavior online so it can present suggestions after suggestions until it succeeds in doing what it was designed to do in our time on the Internet.
The things we focus on in life hold great significance. Our day-to-day actions and choices play a major role in determining what truly matters to us. It is essential to have a balanced life that encompasses not only work, family, and social life but also spiritual life. In fact, our spiritual life is the most important of all as it matters the most to God. It is a reminder that we were created to know God and to love Him, and one way we can do that is by dedicating as much time as possible with Him. As we are often told in homilies, we should give God our first, not our last.
“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33)
Now is your turn to share your stories ingrained with a heavenly touch. Shoot me a message, I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Many Blessings!
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