Some strive for it with a fanaticism; some take short cuts and cheat to get it. But that is all for glory that does not last. In Housman's poem "To an Athlete Dying Young" we hear:
"Smart lad, to slip betimes away
From fields where glory does not stay"
I recently struggled with an article on glory and hope. Who wants glory? What is it? Is it bad? If it is good, why not let someone else have it? I read the article from The Word Among Us - June twice, making notes. Something started to click on the third reading.
Glory is something God wants to share with us. At Christ's birth angels appeared in the heavens singing: "Glory to God in the highest" and heralded a message of peace. God left the glory of heaven and came to earth to become one of the creatures he was going to save.
He suffered, as we suffer, and was raised in glory after his death so that we can be raised in the same way. How wonderful is that?
Christ is in us and wants to feed us with his Spirit. The Word and the Eucharist will nourish us. Prayer, obedience and love can help us become more Christ-like.
But we fixate on earthly glory. The essential glory would be winning Olympic gold! Athletes sacrifice everything to train for this. And it is right! God gives us talents to use to give glory to our creator through our excellence.
Eric Liddell said, "I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast. And when I run I feel His pleasure." We feel His power when we perform feats of prowess. Many a professional athlete acknowledges God in gratitude after that home-run or touch down or first place finish.
The "Glory Days" of this world fade as in Springsteen's song:
"Glory days well they'll pass you byGlory days in the wink of a young girl's eyeGlory days, glory days"
The lasting glory, as Housman's athlete found, was to "hold to the low lintel up" the victory cup of his achievement. Having used God's talents to win the victory in this life gave the athlete glory in the world of "the sill of shade".
Recognizing our unfolding gifts in God's eternal plan requires vision. I believe that my parents, from their eternal place, are proud of my accomplishments in this life. That's what makes it possible for me to realize that God is pleased with me, with us. He holds us as the apple of his eye.
Seeing others as the apple of our eye is possible too. With deep consideration I can see you, my reader, as the apple of my eye I can recognize Christ in you.
Christ is our hope of glory. More correctly, Christ is our promise of glory. Jesus wants to share his glory with us; the same glory the angels came down to earth to sing about at that first Christmas. What a marvellous promise we have. We can look forward to more than the "boring stories of glory days" Springsteen was singing about.
