Getting to the Starting Line

This past Saturday, a parish friend invited my wife and I to attend his daughter’s Quincea?era Mass held at the St. Anthony’s Chapel here in San Antonio.

By the way, for those of you unaware of a Quincea?era, it is the celebration of a young girl’s 15th birthday, marking her transition from girlhood to womanhood. I’ve heard stories about some of these events being at the level of a wedding. In other words, whether humble in nature or extravagant, they are a big deal in the Latino culture.

During his eloquent homily, Fr. Martin spoke directly to the young lady, and the words he shared were beautiful and touching.

At one point, Fr. Martin noted that she would now be presented with new challenges and opportunities, saying...

“Eva, 15 years ago, your parents brought you to a church just like this so you would be baptized. Today, your family and friends are here to celebrate your advancement into womanhood. In other words, life is often about getting to the starting line, and that starting point happens all through life. Don’t worry … you will not be alone. We are still with you.”

Getting to the Starting Line

The words Fr. Martin mentioned landed quickly with me.

In essence, he noted to Eva that life gives us many opportunities along the way.

Interestingly, the Quincea?era is clearly marked, so it’s easy to know when to step up to the line. However, most of us with many more years on this earth know that some starting lines are blurred, and in some cases, they are hardly observable.

Think about the many starting lines presented to us along the way …

• We have the opportunity to pursue a degree, but the university is far away from where we currently live.
• We are contacted by a colleague to apply for an employment position that is clearly aligned with our skills and abilities, but we fear change and prefer our comfort zone.
• We are stuck in a situation where the decisions we make are largely dictated by someone else.

Stepping to the Line

My guess is that while Fr. Martin was speaking directly to Eva, he knew his message would extend to everyone in the chapel.

In my case, I’ve observed that as time passes, the starting lines presented to me are much less about career advancement. I do enjoy working and professional development opportunities, but these goals have taken a backseat to other aspects of my life.

Today, I seem to gravitate more toward events related to faith and family. Yes … there are times when I make zero dollars, but this is what makes me the happiest.

This message from Fr. Martin has probably been said in my presence many times and by many different people.

The difference: I was not ready to hear it. I was not ready to take action.

I’m so glad to have made it to the Quincea?era Mass.

Think about it … this was a perfect event for me to get closer to God and to spend more time with my wife.

Doesn’t get much better, my friends!

Homework Inquiry

During the next week, here’s your homework inquiry: What positive actions can you take right now?