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During my previous career as a TV news producer, I had friendships with many of the on-air “talent”.
A few of them were with meteorologists (who really are good and decent people who do the best they can in spite of all the criticism they face for getting a forecast wrong).
While I don’t think the one I’m about to refer to will be reading this (although his ears might be ringing now!), I still want to mention he had a daily ritual of asking me — with an air of both irony and general concern — “How’s your comfort level?”As it got closer to my deadlines of 12 noon and 5 p.m., usually not the best. So much to do and so little time to do it in.
However he meant the question to come across, it was a good chance to pause, even if not for very long, on the question he was asking me.
In present times, I’ve used that same question in my own lexicon, which is usually met with reactions of confusion and verbal and non-verbal ways of saying “Why are you asking me that?”
So, I ask you now — How IS your comfort level?
Comfort vs. greatness
If you’ve been anywhere near Catholic youth ministry programs the past decade, you’ve probably heard Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI’s paraphrased statement of “You were not meant for comfort; you were meant for greatness.”
This can bring on an immediate guilt trip if one hears it while sitting in a nice comfy chair.
Whenever I feel like I’m not doing enough with my life, that comfort/greatness concept seems to work its way into my head.
The overthinker in me later takes it to the next level and ponders if comfort and greatness are really polar opposites.
Many times when I feel uncomfortable I don’t feel all that great.
Or does that mean I’ve taken the first steps to greatness via my discomfort?
Sweet! I’m keeping a pebble in my shoe at all times then.
Greatness, here I come!
As I said, I’m overthinking this.
So, let’s go back to the question: How. Is. Your. Comfort. Level?
If you’re feeling pretty good, that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
Perhaps you’ve totally aligned your heart and will to God, and you are radiating with joy. I’m a little jealous.
Perhaps you’re just in a really good spot in life right now and are grateful for all that you have and all that is to come. I won’t take that away from you. That is pretty great.
Perhaps, something is actually wrong. More on that later.
Let’s go to the other end of the spectrum.
If you’re not feeling all that good and comfortable, maybe you are not aligned with God right now and need a life course correction, or at least should consider that’s what going on. It’s Lent. No time like the present to make things better.
Maybe you’ve had some of the worst luck imaginable, things aren’t going well, and you’re feeling a little crushed right now. If that’s the case, I think you’re pretty great.
Or.
Maybe there’s nothing wrong at all.
Feelings and God’s will
There’s a famous story about St. Teresa of Calcutta (Mother Teresa) that she felt years of spiritual dryness and never sensed the presence of God near her.
Mother Teresa? The great example of giving one’s life to the poor? Yes, her.
Just imagine her answer if you asked her what her comfort level was.
She may have joyfully said she was uncomfortable and said it with a smile.
Was it her discomfort that made her such an example? No. It was what came before that.
The more we push ourselves and find ourselves discerning and living out God’s plan for us, things may get a little uncomfortable.
Fallen humanity and its effects on this world are always in constant conflict with that God wants for us, what he wants for us even more than we do.
[Cliché metaphor alert] The more we swim upstream and go toward God, the more challenging the journey is.
It would be easy to let go and let the current take us wherever, but God wants us to go the other way.
Just like on a river, there will be moments where the traveling isn’t so tough. Embrace those moments. Those came from going the right way this whole time.
You needn’t always lament your feeling good or comfortable as doing it wrong. It may be a God-given consolation.
So back to our original pondering question.
How is your comfort level?
Pause and look beyond your immediate mood.
If you’re feeling bad, you might be just hungry, have recently stubbed your toe, gotten into a disagreement with a co-worker, discovered you had a flat tire, or misplaced your watch.
All these things are temporary and easily solvable. If all you need to do is make a little thing or two a little bit better, then you’re probably actually doing pretty good comfort-wise.
If you know you’re feeling good, challenge yourself.
Are you filled with fleeting good things, like a really good cup of chocolate pudding or a good song on the radio which effects will fade, or are you confident in where your life is now, full well knowing challenges may still be coming?
As we continue this Lent, aim for greatness. Be great. Embrace those God-given comforts and blessings.