Quote of the day

In my diligent search to discover the grand purpose of my life, I came across the following quote that I felt like summed up everything very well. When I initially read it, I felt very satisfied inside, as if I'd been given the answer and it was much simpler than I could've ever imagined:

“God freely created us so that we might know, love, and serve him in this life and be happy with him forever. God’s purpose in creating us is to draw forth from us a response of love and service here on earth, so that we may attain our goal of everlasting happiness with him in heaven.

All the things in this world are gifts of God, created for us, to be the means by which we can come to know him better, love him more surely, and serve him more faithfully.

As a result, we ought to appreciate and use these gifts of God insofar as they help us toward our goal of loving service and union with God. But insofar as any created things hinder our progress toward our goal, we ought to let them go.” –St. Ignatius of Loyola

It is a constant struggle for me to continually recognize the simplicity of faith as I tend to over-romanticize and over-analyze most things in life. I went through a confused phase where I thought it was a little selfish of God to require our entire hearts and souls and lives, but then I came to this revelation that it's the most selfless thing of Him ever to allow us to share in His glory and magnificence - both of which are a) greater than anything else in the whole entire world and b) WORTHY of our entire hearts and souls and lives.

I find it tough sometimes to persevere in my faith, yet am hopeful that the Holy Spirit will provide me with the encouragement to move forward, allowing the quote from St. Ignatius to come to full fruition in my life with 100% honor to God...