{"id":2674,"date":"2011-08-29T23:07:11","date_gmt":"2011-08-30T05:07:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/marccardaronella.com\/?p=2674"},"modified":"2011-08-30T11:50:13","modified_gmt":"2011-08-30T17:50:13","slug":"the-dirty-little-word-that-just-might-make-you-holy-and-happy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/marccardaronella.com\/blog\/2011\/08\/29\/the-dirty-little-word-that-just-might-make-you-holy-and-happy\/","title":{"rendered":"The Dirty Little Word That Just Might Make You Holy…and Happy"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

I want to talk\u00a0about an important word for Catholics.<\/p>\n

Some may consider it a dirty little word.<\/p>\n

Nevertheless, if you want to be holy, you’ll have to understand it and embrace it.<\/p>\n

It’s been a big part of Catholic spirituality since the beginning.<\/p>\n

That word is discipline. And, it’s tied to a not so dirty word–happiness.<\/p>\n

Why is discipline so important and how can it make you holy…and happy?<\/p>\n

It’s all\u00a0about attitude.
\n<\/p>\n

Martial arts is not fun<\/h2>\n

I started my kids in martial arts lessons recently. They’re enthusiastic but a little on\u00a0the fence\u00a0about it.<\/p>\n

My younger son, who’s 7 year’s old, told me the other day he liked it, but it wasn’t fun. I asked him what he meant.<\/p>\n

He said, “Nintendo DS is fun. This is work…kind of like math.” Then he asked, “Why do we do this anyway?”<\/p>\n

I told him martial arts was not fun like video games. It was a different kind of fun. I also explained how it’s important to stretch yourself and try hard things. It gives you confidence and a certain kind of strength.<\/p>\n

Martial arts is really hard and it’s a little scary, but when you master something that’s difficult like that it makes you feel great about yourself. It makes you feel happy.<\/p>\n

Happiness is…<\/h2>\n

In the early Church, the number one question of the spiritual life was happiness. What should I do and how should I live in order to be happy.<\/p>\n

But it’s a different kind of happy than we normally think. Our concept of happiness is based on pleasure. I’ll call it “Nintendo happiness.”<\/p>\n

Now this is not a bad thing, until it becomes the basis of your whole life. Then, it becomes a problem\u00a0because it’s fleeting. It doesn’t last. Once the Nintendo, or any other thing that’s making you happy, stops…so does\u00a0the happiness.<\/p>\n

The early Church fathers\u00a0had a different concept of happiness. It’s based in joy.<\/p>\n

Joy is what you get from doing something excellent, the satisfaction of completing a difficult task. It’s what comes with discipline.<\/p>\n

Got Joy? Ask Rocky!<\/h2>\n

If you want to\u00a0understand how discipline leads to joy, think\u00a0about Rocky.<\/p>\n

In the beginning of\u00a0the movie, Rocky is taking the easy way out. He’s not training seriously as a boxer. He makes his living as an enforcer for a local loan shark.<\/p>\n

He’s comfortable but he hates himself and what he’s become. He wants more. When he gets his shot he doesn’t waste it!<\/p>\n

This movie is so great\u00a0because of the turnaround in Rocky. He begins anew. He starts training again. It’s hard at first and he endures a lot of pain. However, he becomes disciplined and that enables him to realize his dream.<\/p>\n

In the end, he’s bloody, bruised, and battered but he triumphed! He’s happy in the classical sense. He has joy!<\/p>\n

Joy-based happiness lasts. It doesn’t depend on how good you feel or if things are\u00a0going your way. Look at Rocky!<\/p>\n

Catechetical takeaway<\/h2>\n

The measure of happiness is how well you can weather the downturns in life. It’s not how happy you are when things are going your way.<\/p>\n

Discipline is important in the spiritual life because it gives you the ability to take action. When\u00a0the opportunity comes, you’ll be ready to give of yourself…even if it’s painful or there’s nothing in it for you.<\/p>\n

Developing spiritual discipline trains you, stretches you to master hard things.\u00a0Fasting, quietly enduring trials, accepting suffering\u00a0with courage, these things give you confidence and strength to love God even when it’s tough.<\/p>\n

The Catholic Faith provides perfect the foundation for a joy-based, happy life. And, when your chance comes, you’ll be ready to fight and to win!<\/p>\n

Image credit: Generation Bass<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Discipline is an important word for Catholics, even if many consider it a dirty word. 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