Not to over-react

WE all commit mistakes in this life. We fall into sin from time to time. We suffer failures and misfortunes. Many other miseries can hound us in this life and they can form even some kind of perfect storm. We can even feel that God himself is against us. But in all these, we should make sure that we do not over-react. It would just make things worse than they already are.

We over-react when feeling bad, sad, irritated, etc. after each fall lasts much longer than they should. We over-react when we freeze into fear and shame or burn in bitterness and anguish rather than start looking for remedies. We over-react when we do not accept and acknowledge our weaknesses, our limitations, our woundedness and sinfulness, and learn how to live with them with all the proper precautionary protocols.

Behind these forms of over-reactions can be a subtle form of pride and perfectionism in ourselves. In this case, our desire not to commit any mistake or sin is stretched out unrealistically. If our first parents, created in the state of original justice, managed to fall, how can we expect not to fall when we are born already with original sin?

Let’s remember that as St. John said in his first letter, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” (1,8) And St. Paul tells us that “we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly place.” (Eph 6,12)

Our over-reaction can also be due to an overly sensitive temperament or a scrupulous conscience. If not corrected, these will always lead us to exaggerate our reactions to the negative things in life. That is why we need to have continuing formation so we can see and judge things more objectively and fairly.

We have to be realistic about our human and temporal condition in this life. We have to learn how to be accepting of things even as we continue to struggle calmly to pursue our ultimate goal to be with God, which is a supernatural affair that is hounded not only by our natural limitations but also by some infranatural elements like the wiles and tricks of the devil.

We have to strengthen our faith and trust in God, in his most powerful, wise and merciful providence. He allows certain negative things to happen for a reason, since he knows how to derive a greater good from them. As St. Paul said, “God works all things together for the good of those who love him.” (Rom 8,28)

We have no reason to worry too much, much less, to fall into depression and despair. We just have to learn to be sport and game in this life, especially when we happen to suffer some defeat and loss.

Might be good to go through what the Book of Ecclesiastes tells us about our earthly condition: “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance…” (3,1-4)