África
Lowe Díez
20 years old - Madrid (Spain)
What does it mean to be happy?
Being happy means being at peace with oneself, but above all, with God.
It means living in God. That is the only possible way to be happy,
even in the midst of suffering. It means doing good and knowing that
what you do is right. As well it means trusting in God, knowing that
He makes all things new and that He never leaves us.
Are you happy?
I think so, but the truth is that I am happy only when I am close to
God. If it were not for God, I might be content, but not happy. And I
speak from experience!
In what does freedom consist?
I think that it means that you are the lord of yourself, not doing whatever
you want, as is said nowadays. That is really just being a slave of your
passions, feelings, and likes. You are forced to give them what they
want and you cannot resist doing so. (This not only enslaves you, but
it also leaves you empty inside.) If one is lord of oneself, not in a
stoic way, but in a Christian way (with the grace of God), one is more
free.
What is the best path?
Each one has his own path in this life, and one is not any better than
the other, as long as the right path is followed. The key is to be sincere
with oneself, with God, and with others, and to follow through with what
one sees that needs to be done.
How do you enter through the narrow gate?
By loving God and letting Him be our support. You cannot do it on your
own. Oh! And by not forgetting the Virgin Mary, who is there to help
us pass through.
Could you say that your life belongs to God?
Right now, yes, although there are many things that I have to work on,
things that I have done badly (very badly), and there have been moments
when I have totally ignored God. Yet I know that He is the one who picks
me up, He forgives me (when I ask for forgiveness) and he gives me the
grace to continue on. He loves me with my faults, and He awaits me on
the way to Calvary, fallen, so that I can be lifted up with Him, walking,
so that I can help Him, and dead, so that I can live with Him. Only He
is able to make my life His.
Do you know how to listen to God?
I try, but I still have a lot to learn. Sometimes it’s harder to
do what you hear than it is to hear Him.
Is it hard for you to respond to what He tells you?
Yes, although I know that He always gives me the grace. It is also true
that sometimes it is very difficult because of human considerations,
laziness, etc. Yet God never asks for more than what we can give. The
good thing is that He understands us and knows how weak we are.
What most affects you?
Violence, even in its most subtle forms (talking badly about someone,
rumors, etc.), has always impressed me and made me feel bad. It makes
me “rebel” sometimes against God (I don’t understand
why He permits it). I also have a hard time when I worry about what others
will think when I have to say something or act strongly, be coherent
with my faith, etc. This tends to be hard for me.
And positively speaking?
Seeing good and joyful people close to God. Seeing examples of generosity.
I think: “I want to be like that.” I want to be able to attract
people like that, by loving them and giving of myself.
How would you describe yourself?
I do not know! The good I have is from God. And the rest...I am a person
who likes to get along with everybody (and I usually do), likes to feel
loved...
Do you consider yourself an optimistic person?
Yes, although sometimes too much so. I am usually told that I am not
very realistic.
Why would you say “no” to sadness?
Because when you are sad, you are not happy. You despair, become enclosed
in yourself, and distance yourself from God. I think that sadness comes
from the Devil.
What virtue do you consider most necessary?
Humility. I think that it is the foundation of all the rest. True humility
recognizes what is good and bad in oneself.
What virtue do you find most of in yourself?
I don’t know. I think that others would be able to say that better
than I. Perhaps it is the gift of being able to see and thank God for
so many good things in the world, so much beauty (I don’t know
if this is a virtue, because there are times when I get mad with God
when I see the ugly things that I do not understand).
How would you define friendship?
A constructive relationship between persons. It is when you help one
another to be better, love one another mutually even with the knowledge
of the other’s defects, listen to the other, feel free to be oneself,
say the truth when necessary, have a good time... and the list could
go on! I think that friendship is a reflection of the love of God when
it is true friendship.
How do you find a friend?
You don’t find him. God puts him on your path.
How would you sum up your life until now?
A varied path. Difficult moments with stones and thorns and dark forests
all around. Other moments have been better: fields of flowers, a river
that flows by once in awhile, etc.
At the end of your life, how would you like it to have been?
A life full of love, close to Jesus and His Mother. A life that will
have brought others to Heaven.
BRIEFLY FILL IN THESE SENTENCES:
The world would be a lot better if... we stopped thinking about ourselves,
looked around us and helped others.
It seems to me that...we don’t realize how many unhappy young people
there are that beg and shout for God, although they might not know it.
My greatest wish... is to go to Heaven with the person that God wants
to put at my side, with my family and friends.
Every day that begins... is a gift to be enjoyed, in which you learn
to be better and grow closer to God.
What happens to the Christians is...we don’t have faith. That is
why we are not strong.
I will spend my youth... helping others the best that I can.
At the end of the journey, I will say... Lord, I am your little disaster,
but I tried.
The greatest thing about man is... his freedom and his ability to love.
To be at peace, I need...to have my conscience tranquil.
My last thought...The Virgin Mary is my mother. She is always here.
It’s hard for me...to be 100% coherent with my faith.