My granddaughter is running now. At seventeen months old, it is funny to observe that when she runs it is for the sake of running, not with the intention of getting somewhere.

Last weekend I took a road trip with Maxine and her parents, and we made a rest stop. Lifting her out of her car seat, her legs were already pedaling before they hit the ground. While her parents went inside, I accompanied Maxine while she ran. She took off across the front of the building, not looking back, and although the sidewalk continued straight, she made a hard right and went full toddler speed down the left side of the cement block building. It had a small sidewalk and was perfectly good for running, but it didn’t lead anywhere. There was nothing appealing at the end. No flower bush, no one walking their dog, no pile of rocks or anything that might have caught her eye. She didn’t seem to care; her mind was on running. Then she suddenly stopped, turned, and took off full speed in another seemingly pointless direction.

I was thinking how that scene could be an analogy for how a lot of people choose to live their lives. Similarly, those folks run with no end goal. Their feet keep going, but on a treadmill rather than a road with a worthwhile destination – with no substantial prize in mind. As Christians we are taught that we need to be intentional on the paths we choose, keeping heaven as the goal at the end of our road. That requires keeping our heads up and our eyes alert as we run. Alert to the tricks and snares of the evil one and humbly willing to accept and partake of the resources available to us by the Church. Continuing to grow in our faith as adults through good reading, attending faith formation classes, regular Mass attendance, and confession are all navigational aids that keep us on the right track.

We were all young runners once like Maxine. Exploring without a plan is an important part of learning – for a while. But the time comes when, like St. Paul says, we need to “put aside childish ways.” It is a waste of a life to spend it heading in the wrong direction.

Scripture: Read 1 Corinthians 13:11. What stands out?

Call to Action: Check out Formed.org for a seemingly endless collection of Catholic movies, programs, children’s videos, audio talks and books. If you don’t already have an account, it is free through our parishes. Go to Formed.org → Formed for Parishes → Find Your Parish Subscription → type in 10509 and choose St. Lawrence O’Toole. Then create your account with email and password. Enjoy!