Pier Giorgio Frassati
loved the mountains.
When he saw the peaks, the vast sky, and nature all around him, he experienced
a profound sense of peace.
He felt God's presence there. For him, every summit was
a reminder that earthly life
is only a step toward
our true home: Heaven.
That understanding gave
him clarity, helping him
value each step,
avoid wasting time
on superficial things,
and live with his eyes set
on that "true homeland."
There's something
in us that can never
be totally filled by
fleeting things. St.
Augustine expressed it beautifully: "You have
made us for yourself,
O Lord, and our hearts
are restless until they
rest in you."
It's easy to fall into the trap of seeking immediate satisfaction in things that don't last: fun outings with friends, new purchases, recognition... We work hard
to attain those goals.
But have you ever asked yourself what happens
after you get them?
Often, the joy is fleeting,
and the emptiness we felt before comes back... sometimes even stronger.
That's what St. Augustine
and Pier Giorgio were
talking about.
No matter what we achieve
or possess, there will
always be a part of us
that longs for something greater, something eternal. That restlessness is a call to open our eyes and discover that our true home is in God, not temporary things.
how?
how?
Seeing life through
eyes of eternity completely changes how we value
what surrounds us.
We no longer get trapped in comparisons, the rush to experience what everyone recommends, or the fear of missing out. We learn to distinguish between what truly matters and what is temporary.
That's because true
happiness isn’t bought or earned. It comes from living
in communion with God, trusting Him to guide our steps.
This perspective frees us
from the anxiety of constantly chasing success or approval, because we understand that our identity and worth don’t depend on those things.
Easy to say and hard to believe, we know.
Let it sink in. You don't
have to earn happiness.
God already loves you.
And living with your eyes
on Heaven helps you see
that even small, simple things
have eternal value,
because they are infused
with God’s love, which is always with us.
Food for thought:
What things that urgent- or important-seeming things steal your peace?When do you notice yourself getting stuck in superficial things and forgetting what truly matters?Do you believe that your true home is Heaven?If your life ended today, would you be satisfied with how you’ve lived? What would you change?
Do a daily reflection (or examination of conscience).
At the end of each day,
pause to review your actions and intentions. Are they leading toward the life you want to build?
PRACTICAL TIPSfor keeping your focuson eternity
Seek spiritual guidance
A priest or experienced friend can help you focus on the hard-to-see things that
really matter and keep a
big-picture perspective
in your daily life.
PRACTICAL TIPSfor keeping your focuson eternity
Prioritize your time.
Ask whether what you do reflects your true vocation,
or just the urgent or surface-level parts of life. If needed, make a schedule to guide your time toward what matters most.
PRACTICAL TIPSfor keeping your focuson eternity
Meditate on the Gospel.
Jesus was fully God and
fully human, and He said,
“I am the way, the truth, and the life.” We have his example,
in words and actions,
to guide us to Heaven.