It began on a rainy afternoon. I was sitting at my desk with a cup of hot chocolate in one hand, a pen in the other, and some time to ponder. As I placed the warm cup on down, the liquid inside rippled and I was struck by a fascinating thought. ‘We are all living in one massive bubble, continuously floating in the vastness of space.’
And inside this colossal bubble, are about eight billion mini-bubbles. That’s me, you, and everyone else. That’s how we all see it, right? Everyone else.
It’s interesting, that though we grind through this life like it’s a cycle; whether it’s getting that sweet promotion, beating that pompous opponent, or putting your hand up in class to answer that burning question, we often willingly or unknowingly forget to recognise a certain realism. None of that stuff actually matters.
A HUMBLING TRUTH
In this fast-paced society, we keep our minds occupied on materialistic goals and attractions, rather than accepting a humbling truth. All of us, in theory, are alone. Alone in our own bubbles, floating aimlessly.
I mean, we can blame Covid, we can blame the rise of technology, we can blame the next generation and their dependency on social media, and fitting in to the so called ‘norm’. But there is one question we must face before we tackle all the others. Is it really true? Are we alone? Confined to our thoughts and feelings forever?
You’d think that in a group of nearly eight billion humans, no one would ever have to feel alone. You’d expect that in a world where we know enough to create infinite paths of purpose for people, no one would have to feel hopeless, or lost.
The truth is, we live in a materialistic world. There’s no doubt about it. A world where happiness is defined by wealth and privilege (have you seen the way a new iPhone stirs people into excitement?). A world where there’s no ‘I’ in team, but an ‘m’ and ‘e’. A world where work is a constant, to the point where we forget why we do it. A world where we have to ask Siri what the time is.
THE TREASURE OF FAMILY
As the son of two immigrants, the virtue of value has always been instilled in me since I was little. Both of my parents knew what it was like to have little, and during those times, family was always most treasured.
Even now, away from Africa, my parents still encourage me and my siblings to value each other over materialistic objects. My Mum is particularly passionate on the subject.
My mother, Debra, has called Australia home for 24 years. She grew up with her family in Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe. She worked hard to attain a good education, so that she could leave the country, and continue her studies in a more developed place.
And so, at the age of 18, she left her family and home country, and travelled to Australia as a student. She said she felt excited at the opportunity, yet lonely as she had no family or friends here. ‘I arrived in Australia with one suitcase, and a contact at the university.’
Now she has attained a master’s degree, is a mother of three, and owns her own home. ‘As a highly established academic, with a garage full of stuff, I find it hard to believe that I only arrived here with one suitcase,’ she said.
TRUE PURPOSE
But it’s her family that makes Mum proud. ‘All my accolades and awards just sit in a box in the garage. To me, they’re just achievements, really. Having a family made me realise what life is all about. They show me love, they smile, and in return, I give them my own. This I think, is the true purpose of a humanity. To love.’
I proudly admit that I’ve learned a valuable lesson from Mum. Sometimes, we find ourselves focusing on the wrong things. We value titles, money, and power, without realising that all those things can vanish in a split second. The truth is the more we value the relationships we have, the more we can truly appreciate everything we’re given in life.
Jesus himself wasn’t particularly rich; he didn’t need to be. His mission was to re-establish the connection between all of us and God, to spread love wherever he could. The materialistic world ripples our stream into billions of impenetrable bubbles: you, me, and everyone else. We all seem to be focused on our own life and valuing our own things, instead of loving each other.
A GOOD DAY
There’s a saying that goes, ‘If you can lay down at night, knowing in your heart that you made someone’s day just a little bit better, you know you had a good day.’ Life becomes purposeful once we understand that we aren’t living alone. We are all one massive family, and everyone has the right to feel loved, valued, and appreciated.
So, as you go out into the world today, why don’t you strike up a conversation with someone you don’t know? It can be neighbour, or a colleague. Grab a coffee, have lunch, or better yet, brew a couple of hot chocolates. I’ve heard those work wonders.
Jeremiah Abrokwah is a member of the Australian Catholics young writers community.
MAKE SOMEONE’S DAY
Jesus was a big fan of love. Here’s what he had to say about love in John 13:34 (ESV) ‘A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: Just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another’. The best part about love is that it’s practically priceless, but ultimately costs nothing. A simple gesture can make someone feel special, and isn’t that special?
It’s one of the easiest things to do; to make someone’s day just that little bit better. It could be a compliment; saying how nice a friend or colleague looks, it could be giving someone the support that they might need when they’re down, it could even be a simple smile to a stranger. Imagine how connected we would be as a community if we tried to step out of our bubbles, and make just one person’s day?
REFLECTION QUESTIONS AND ACTIVITIES
Finding faithful connections – questions and activities
In these activities students consider how they can stay connected to God and each other in meaningful ways that enhance their spirituality and connection to their faith.