When we do something or get involved in a routine activity, we cannot do something else at the same time. In other words, we cannot be two places at once (short of becoming a living saint and getting used to bilocation – something we should not count on at all).
In other words, we should stop and ask ourselves what is the best instead of stopping only at what is good or OK. Typically, we set up times in the day for each thing that we have included in our lives. Going to work, commuting, spending time with the kids, spending time with the spouse, spending time reading or watching TV.
When we get absorbed watching a good show on TV at home, this is really saying to everyone else in the family that “my TV show is more important to me right now”. More important than spending time with your spouse or children.
The same thing applies to martial arts. If you really need some physical training, improvement in concentration, then it might become a priority to get involved in something that will help. If this is the case, generally people get involved with a physical activity that interests them as well as meets their needs. We need to remember that this is for a purpose and we need to keep the purpose in clear focus. Being physically fit is not an end in itself. Being able to think clearly is also not an end in itself. If we want to acquire these things as Christians, it is to better serve and glorify the Lord and to be able to better do His will on earth.
Now that Fr. Leo is a Catholic Priest, I suppose he may not be break-dancing as much. But the TV show can be a ministry to others in helping to illustrate or facilitate family togetherness. The family is threatened as an institution, and it is admirable for Fr. Leo to try to do something positive that will attract people who need to see a good model.
Don’t consider that I’m all that bright. I’ve been taking some video classes at work on my computer (the employer provides) and there are a lot of good ones that I think are helpful.
It is important to say no and to disregard things which might be good when there is something better or more important to do.
There are urgent things (people wanting to talk with you, for example phone calls at work). There are important things (things that have bigger consequences if left undone). There are unimportant things (those that have little or no consequence if undone) and there are things not so urgent. For the most part, people may prioritize the urgent and important things first. But what next? Some make the mistake of working on the urgent but unimportant things next. Instead, more careful consideration should be given to important things that are not so urgent.
My experience taking Karate has definitely been helpful to me and helped me to accomplish some of my goals (especially educational goals when I was younger and a student). I am probably a better person because of it – with a little more patience and persistence. But I haven’t taken Karate since then and I don’t think it will become a priority for me again. At this time, I find praying the Rosary can be more important.
jmm08
. There is something wrong however, if you look to it as a source of spiritual development. If you have to look past the Church for anything spiritual you haven’t searched the Church hard enough.