Rivista DMA
Yearning for the future
Yearning for the future
An eastern sage once said: “If I would have
the omnipotence of God for a moment, the
only miracle I would work would be that of
giving words their original meaning”. In
reality, noted Tonino Bello, words today
have acquired a multi-use. The same term
frequently holds meanings that are
diametrically opposed. It seems to me that
one of these multi-use words is future.
Those among us who are older and more
experienced think of young people as the
future of society, of the Church of our
religious family. We are happy to meet
young people who passionately commit
themselves to something that is worth
dedicating time and energy. We are proud
of the good number of young people in all
parts of the world who say “yes” to the God
who calls them to a life of consecration. We
are full of hope because there is a future!
I joyfully told a group of young Sisters whom
I met: “You are the future of the Institute” It
came to me spontaneously, even though it
was an overused and multi-used
expression. I became aware of their
discomfort when they fell silent. For many
young people in different life situations, the
future no longer constitutes a magic word
that colors dreams, plans and an ideal.
Many people look to the future with fear, in
a confused, undetermined way. They live
the fear of not being able to carry out their
own plans. They feel wrapped in an
uncertainty that places them in the difficulty
of deciding and deciding to do something for
life.
In many of today’s cultures being committed
forever becomes one of the greatest challenges. One tends to prevaricate, to put
things off. One may even arrive at deferring
choices to the point of arriving too late. This
problem frequently finds its roots in adult
victims of disenchantment, of tolerance, of a
routine that smothers idealism and
suffocates enthusiasm. They themselves
are uncertain and incapable of offering the
younger generations the gift of hope and
trust.
We ask ourselves how a young person can
serenely face marriage and motherhood
when publicized opinions deal with “Forty
reasons for not having children” that has as
a subtitle “No kids”, a recently published
book that is very widespread. Or how can a
young person perceive the fascination of
religious life when a mass media campaign
ridicules it and makes Sisters seem
insignificant.
We know that we live in a time of great
challenges and great opportunities. It is a
time of the Spirit that continues to act in
history. We believe that young people
yearn for the future. They also know how to
look to it with hope, with curiosity, with the
desire to commit them to fill it with meaning.
We who are on their side and believe in
them can make ourselves companions in
their seeking that is so often uncertain or
frustrated.
We can still make them hear: “Whatever
your heart hopes for is possible. A good,
beautiful future is possible. If you want, I
will walk with you so that you will be able to
find your way.
gteruggi@cgfma.org