Letter from the President

Finding God in adversity and disappointment…really?

The emergence of the coronavirus in our country and all of the challenges it presents to our normal way of life is, to put it lightly, a profound disappointment. The need to close Gonzaga for two weeks prior to spring break is a huge disappointment for so many of our Gonzaga boys who genuinely love being at school, going to their classes, engaging in sports and activities, and just hanging out with their buddies on campus. I feel in particular for our wonderful seniors in the Class of 2020, as the spring semester of senior year is always one that our boys cherish. To have that upended is, as one senior said to me yesterday, “a serious bummer.”

And as so many are experiencing now, sometimes it can be hard to find God when you are “seriously bummed out.”

It is the natural inclination of loving parents to want to protect their children from adversity and disappointment. Nobody wants to see a loved one experience a difficult time or struggle with challenges, and it seems like in recent days we are all watching people we love struggle with how to process current events. But I am reminded that managing adversity and overcoming disappointment – even profound disappointment – is part of the growing up process. While painful, sometimes the best lessons in life are learned at the times of greatest difficulty. Sometimes we encounter who we most truly are when we are being tested.

But I believe that is only possible when we recognize that we are not alone in moments such as these. One of the most often repeated and most misunderstood concepts in Jesuit spirituality is the idea of finding God in all things. St. Ignatius of Loyola believed profoundly that God is to be found in all things. Upon reflection, many people believe they understand what St. Ignatius was talking about. It is easy to find God in a beautiful sunset or a majestic mountain vista or the birth of a child. However, the idea of finding God in all things seems to make less sense when we are confronted with disappointment and adversity. However, St. Ignatius would insist that it is precisely at these moments, when our lives are turned upside down, that God’s voice can be heard most profoundly. In fact, St. Ignatius himself began his journey to sainthood while recuperating in a hospital bed for weeks on end. Sometimes God’s call to us is heard with new clarity precisely when the routine and predictability of our lives is turned upside down.

As we move into this period of disappointment, uncertainty, and adversity, let us not be afraid to enter into it with all of its unpleasantness. Let us take a moment to be grateful for all we have, and not despair. Because the God who loves us profoundly in the good times is right along there with us when we are “bummed out.” May God bless you all.

Rev. Stephen W. Planning, SJ
President
 
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