Enhancing Lives

The semester break have started two weeks back and right off the bat, I was busily maneuvering through several Masses, EE meetings, some Spiritual Direction sessions, that I couldn't find the time to sit down to pen any thoughts - till now.

Even so, there are som any things going on and round my mind that it is rather difficult to focus on a particular topic to write on. What seem to be mostly on the top of my mind, however, is strangely nothing spiritual, but have a lot of implications for our faith lives nonetheless.

This came surprisingly from a very secular quarter and one that has inserted itself into the lives of all persons, whether subtly or major way, that in the now is seen as something of the norm and perhaps for many, which cannot be done without.

Apple opened its WWDC conference in Moscone Center, California, Monday this week. In their keynote presentation, it began with an opening statement of the following:

If everyone is busy making everything, how can anyone perfect anything?
We start to confuse convenience with joy. Abundance with choice.
Designing requires focus.
The first thing we ask is
what do we want people to feel?
Delight. Love. Surprise. Connection.
Then we begin to craft around our intention. It takes time.
There are a thousand no's for every yes.
We simplify. We perfect. We start over until everything we touch enhances each life it touches.
Only then do we sign our work.
Designed by Apple, California.

This is, of course, Apple's famous jab at Samsung which has been getting the spotlight lately with their numerous smartphone products (Galaxy S4, the latest) in order to capture the mass market, while Apple was concentrating more towards the quality of the product that woudl want to change or enhances people's life.

Whichever preference you may have, either for Samsung (or for the Android OS) or for Apple and her iOS, one can't deny the pointed references towards the manner which emphasises empathy, feelings, emotions and the capturing of people's hearts (and not just their purse strings).

It is on this note (pardon the pun), I see those statements by Apple, having that almost parallel sense which touches upon the spiritual context of our faith. Let me explain.

We go all over the place, doing all kinds of things, where at the end of it all, they turned out to be trivial and do not serve the real purpose of our existence and the mission that is called of us (ref. Mt 28: 9 - 10). We want to be like this person of celebrity, have so much of tons of money, be able to live it up and do whatever we like, etc. All our energies are expanded to cater to all sorts of whims and fancies, bringing us to the hinterlands of shadows, where nothing sticks or seems real, or fulfilled.

We don't give a thought as to the very essence of our being and calling as children of God (ref. Jn 1: 12) where as we are, the glory of God shines in us, making us alive, where we do not need any other reason or meaning for our desires. It is said that in Christ there is always a Yes, and daily we are being crafted by our heavenly Father to become a better person in Christ.

That's how He signs off His work: Design by God, Heaven. Surely, this is the greatest life enhancer?...