From Max Lucado’s book Cure for the Common Life comes this quote: “You were born prepacked. God looked at your entire life, determined your assignment, and gave you the tools to do the job.” Well then why the heck are we always trying to change ourselves? I laugh too loud, I don’t assert myself, how come I can’t do that like so-and-so? You know why? Cause God didn’t want you like that. He wanted “them” like that. He has given “you” all you need to complete your assignment here. Maybe that laugh is too loud in order for someone to hear you and think “what a happy person. I’d like to know her and why she’s so happy.” (perhaps a chance to evangelize?) Maybe you don’t assert yourself because He needs a more gentle soul for that assignment. And guess what? Your talents? You do them wonderfully and maybe so-and-so is wishing she could do it just like you. Love yourself and all those quirky qualities. He gave em to you for a reason! You truly are “one-in-a-million”.
etc. by sarah: quirks and all
– July 24, 2010Posted in: Daily Thoughts
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It’s been a very hectic three months for me but my life is beginning to settle down enough to take some time to read and write comments on St. Catherine’s WEB site again. I have great difficulty accepting Mr. Lucado’s premise of being “prepacked” for a mission. It simply sounds like a re-presentation of the Calvinist theory of predestination. It also seems like wishful thinking when facing lifes challenges and creates an illusion that we’re somehow in charge..
Over the past several weeks i’ve been reading a wonderful book by Fr. James Martin, SJ titled “The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything”. I find it a very readable presentation of Jesuit Spirituality.
One of the many concepts offered in this book for engaging the world are the following three principles: appreciating the dignity of work, the acceptance of failure, and reliance on God.
If we wish to be co-creators of the Kingdom, we need to work…on ourselves and our surroundings. Jesus was a craftsman and understood the notion of work not only in His profession but in His ministry. Scripture oftens describes Him as being tired. In our daily lives, we ought to imagine ourselves working alongside the Master.
If we recognize the dignity of working for the Kingdom, we must also accept that we will fail. Maybe Jesus as He was learning His craft made a table with one leg too short. In His ministry, He time and time again saw how the apostles just didn’t get it. Jesuits would call that the acceptance of the reality of the situation or as the late Christopher Reeve put it…playing the cards your dealt. This teaches us humility and the acceptance of our poverty of spirit. The book relates for example that St. Francis Xavier died 300 miles short of his destination of China.
In our efforts, we must also come to rely on God. A great quote was from Fr. Martin’s spiritual director. “There is a Messiah and its not you”.
Rather than being “prepacked’ perhaps we can look at our lives as a garden or flower bed. With some work and some weeding, we can help bring forth the wonder of God’s creation.