Last week, I was talking to my cousin, whose son is entering senior high school. She told me how stressed her son was with the academic demands of his school. At times, the young man could hardly keep his eyes open while trying to study after dinner.

He enjoyed athletics, but could only play recreational sports on weekends. Over and above the work in school and the academic pressure, he had to contend with traffic to and from school.

I shared my own view on the importance of sports and arts in schools, especially in the elementary and secondary years. Based on direct observation, and in books and articles I’ve read, the best schools are the ones with good sports and arts programs.

One extensive, highly scientific study showed that children who take up a sport and/or an art form (especially music) for at least two years are the ones who develop their talents in their teenage years and in college, and use them well for the rest of their life.

It is sad that sports and arts are considered extracurricular activities in schools, at best, and rarely, as cocurricular. The beauty of sports and the performing arts comes from qualities of the field.

Here’s a few to reflect on.

First, there are no shortcuts in sports and the arts. One has to learn the basics and what experts call “deliberate practice.”

Second, one develops perseverance and discipline that gives young people grit, which, research shows, leads to happy, meaningful and productive lives.

Third, in sports, one has to abide by the rules to be part of the game. The learning is immediately applied, and one deepens the, the mastery in the living out.

Personal development

Today’s Gospel on the Parable of the Foolish Virgins reminds us that our practice of the faith is similar to the experience of personal development in a sport or an art form.

Relationship requirement

The parable teaches us that our relationship with God can’t be a last-minute concern. We cannot sleep on the job, so to speak, and expect to do well and be rewarded in the end. Our relationship with God requires the “learning of the basics” and “deliberate practice.”

We must see or know God in the day-to-day, and in doing so, learn to love him more, likewise, in the day-to-day. These are the “basics” that lead to “deliberate practice,” the following of what God wants us to do in our daily life.

Seeing, loving and following God day by day becomes the path for us. This path does not take away challenges and trials, but gives us the perspective which, in turn, gives us perseverance and grit.

The second message of the parable is that a relationship with God is always personal. We cannot borrow or steal another person’s relationship. One can say this is the basic rule of faith. Unless one makes the relationship with God personal, you cannot “play the game.”

To whom is this parable addressed?

A frequent discussion I have with people is how the Catholic Church has been losing a lot of members, especially among the youth, to the born again, fundamentalist churches. I have great admiration for these churches.

A phrase I often hear from those who join them is “when I discovered Jesus in my life” or “Jesus became my personal Lord and Savior.” Clearly, these churches have helped people discover and nurture this personal relationship with Christ.

Like a good number of schools where we stress and exhaust creativity and zest for life and learning among young people, is it the same in our faith communities or churches?

Is the care and nurturing of members of our community, especially the youth, entrusted to the wise or foolish virgins?

The example our life will either inspire them to be wise, or condemn them to be foolish. —CONTRIBUTED