When I first started driving, and when I finally had the opportunity to own a car, I felt as if the doors to the world were opening up for me. I no longer had to depend on my mom’s, dad’s, or brother’s schedules to get a ride to or from the places I needed or wanted to go.
Little by little, I began to discover the delights of that newfound autonomy, something I enjoyed so much during that stage of my life.
One particular interest that wasn’t very common among my friends and me, was listening to and enjoying classical music. Whenever the Autonomous University of Chihuahua Symphony Orchestra held a concert, I would look for someone to go with. My brother had completely different tastes, and, perhaps, absolutely no interest in spending time with his little sister, hahaha. I wanted to go to the concerts, but I didn’t want to go alone.
After missing several concerts because I couldn’t find anyone to go with, and with others coming up that I really wanted to attend, I found the courage to go by myself. And to be honest, I thoroughly enjoyed every single event I attended on my own.
And you, when was the last time you enjoyed your own company?
Later on, when I enrolled in the School of Performing Arts to study music, I formed new friendships with people who shared my joy for attending classical music concerts.
Recently, in many different contexts, I’ve heard a reminder that if you aren’t at peace with yourself, you can’t be at peace with others, a concept that invites us to take a close look at our own interpersonal relationships. And the reflection question that arose was this:
“If you don’t enjoy your own company, how can you possibly enjoy the company of anyone else? For if you aren’t at peace with yourself, you cannot be at peace with others.”
This observation was directed at those instances when some of us do nothing but complain, and complain, and complain about other people, almost as if we enjoy it. And in doing so… where may we have left our mirrors?
Let us remember that God can understand us perfectly well when it comes to interpersonal relationships, for our God is a Trinitarian God. Since we are made in the image and likeness of God, and God is family, God is community, is it possible that we might discover that, even within our own individuality, we are also community?
We are human beings with many facets to our being, areas of which we are not always consciously aware. For instance, we have our body, our feelings, and our thoughts. These are just a few among many other areas and capacities.
How do you get along with yourself? How do you get along with others? Is there a common point of friction?
Could it be that God is calling you to reconcile with different areas of your self?
If the Spirit leads you, share with Jesus the Carpenter those points of friction you perceive within yourself. And perhaps, in working through them, you will discover that you enjoy more your own company, and that others also enjoy yours more too.
Marisol
P.S.: We can hear about the Trinity of God in the readings for the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, Year/Cycle A.
