It Is Not What Others Do For Us

that makes us love them. It is what we do for others.

This quote comes from the book, the Power Principle written by the late Dr. Blaine Lee. I began reading this book in the late fall of 2009, but haven't picked it up to finish, since. My mind, thoughts, and eyesight keep falling back to this book. Thus, somehow, it is time to pick it back up and learn more about the depths of this book. 

Blaine was vice president of Franklin Covey Co., and has numerous accolades and titles behind his name, and has influenced a greater number of folks that we can never begin to imagine. I was blessed to meet Blaine, but that perhaps is a story for another time. 

"We are all in the business of influence." "Sometimes was settle for less that we could, simply because we don't know what is possible. In this way, we become powerless through ignorance." "Nothing is as strong as gentleness; and nothing is so gentle as real strength."

Those are just a few rich tidbits from the book. Perhaps it is enticing you as a must-read, if God wills it.

To the point of this post. Sacrificial merit. Merit. Spiritual credit granted for good works. (no joke, I actually found that in the dictionary). Fortunately, I'm sure all Christians believe in Christian merit in this sense. In fact, I'm sure as Catholics, we are not alone in praying for our brothers in sisters and Christ. We take it a step beyond and invoke the intercession of the saints, but even that has to be more common than we realize among protestants... 

It is in offering sacrificial merit for others that we are better able to love them. There are couple of things that make the grace of this merit available to others. First, it must be willingly and freely given.  I recently saw my sister off to travel to Spain with the Kansas group for World Youth Day (what an incredible trip they must be having at present). However, driving fifty-plus miles out of my way to pick her up and then head to Wichita the weekend of the Midwest Catholic Family Conference, was not something I was willing to do. I did it, freely, but I had a selfish mindset the entire drive home and then to Wichita. Unfortunately, she did not benefit from the sacrifice I made to drive the extra miles. It was done out of duty, not love. Her jitters, stress of being gone the first few days of school, did not help to put her at ease as she sensed and was a poor soul of a recipient of my lack of love.

Second, in making the sacrifices or in offering prayers, we recognize, offer, and unite our smallest acts to that of Jesus, on the crucifix and throughout his Passion. It might be a simple, "Lord, I don't want to do this, but because I know you suffered more than I will ever have to for the salvation of souls, I will do it." In fact, acknowledging God in our suffering can even make it joyful. 

Finally, the third component making merit of our humble offerings, is willing it all for God's glory, not our own. Our actions may influence a different result than what we expect, but that's why we are not in control. Rather, we surrender all to God and His will for ourselves, and the intended (and unintended) recipients of the merits of our prayer and sacrifice.

These three components of sacrificial merit can be summed up in the phrase, "the willingness and the free choice to daily enter into the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus so that His kingdom will be built upon this earth among all people"

We influence people by praying for them, and in doing so, we soften our hearts towards them, especially those we find the hardest to love. Are you capable of loving the person hammering a nail through your flesh? Pray God will give you the grace to do so.

In Christ, through Mary.

P.S. The entire theme and message of the movie Fireproof is permeated in this concept.

Grace Falilng From On High

Welling up from deep inside. Hope given to humble souls. Promises to lead us home.

Whenever we say forgive, whenever we speak the words of Truth, You offer us the grace we need to follow after you. 

You offer us the GRACE we need to follow after you.

As I sit down to type this evening, these are the words in my lips and the song in my head from a blessed evening.  The rest of the day was a little less than desirable, but for that too, I praise God and thank Him. Let's get to it. What has gotten me to sing this song this evening?

I've returned from a trip to Walmart to gather a few items up for my classroom. One of these items including some fabric for a bulletin board. As I picked out my fabric, which was not hard to do, for the color I desired was right there shouting pick me, pick me, I noticed how busy the store was but how few associates were around. Seems as the college students are staking claim to their homes, and allowing Walmart to assist them. Regardless, there was no associate around to cut my fabric. After the fourth clank of the bell with the friendly sign reading, "Please ring for assistance," I opted to leave a post-it note with my desired amounts of fabric there while I traipsed across the store to find a specific item. I knew exactly where I needed to go, making it a quick trip to one end of the store, opposite from the items left on my list. 

As I returned to the fabric area, I noticed there was indeed an associate taking care of my polite request (I did say please and signed it with "valued customer"). Janelle, and older woman, had obviously worked a long shift and had all but fried her brain from the day. She willingly admitted it was embarrassing to mess up and not remember measurements in front of a young person. I politely agreed, but prompted her it was humbling and good for her soul. She agreed that pride doesn't get you anywhere. The rest of our conversation touched on Thomas Merton (I know, so cool right?), and the fact that she had finished reading "Seven Story Mountain" (a book I would like to read). She summed the book up in saying "Merton got so ground down that all there was left to do was God's will," or something along those lines. Sporting one of my many Prayer and Action t-shirts, she read the front of it. "So, you're like a missionary." After a hesitant but joyful pause, I said, "You could say that." Other bits and pieces of our conversation included, "I wish I wasn't so stubborn," with my response of, "I hear my friends say that pretty often. In fact, I also find myself saying that same thing."

I never found out if she was Catholic before her supervisor walked up to release her of her duties (she'd already stayed twenty minutes past the end of her shift). I moved along, grabbed my last few more items, offered a prayer for Janelle, and headed back home.

In reflection, it seems so very apparent that, when I step out of the way, and let the Holy Spirit work, I am blessed to be His instrument. In particular when I feel as though I am at my worst. Before leaving school earlier this evening, I journaled (typed) some quick thoughts about my day and saved it to a document I hope to continue throughout the semester. I was grumpy, and I knew it. I have to let go of my summer solitude. Okay. I knew adoration would be helpful and would prepare me for the week ahead. Thank you, Lord for that. 

Ultimately, what I am getting at in this post is something a priest told me in a recent confession of mine, in my admitting that I have not done enough to act on following God's will in my life. My mind has been willing, but my feet hadn't taken any steps yet. "Once you begin to start responding and acting on the promptings of God's grace, more grace will be given to you to accomplish the tasks He asks of you." Perhaps that is not verbatim, but a reward of grace is more grace. It is proving true for me. Hopefully it is proving true for you as well. 

In Him, through Mamma Mary, aww-spiration.

Quick Thoughts

Tomorrow begins the first official day for teachers in USD 448. It is much later than I had anticipated for hitting the hay in prior to the first of several two-a-day volleyball practices, in addition to staff development and final preparations for the semester. Regardless, I could not have asked for a better day to send me into my second semester of teaching. I am in a much different mindset going into this school year than I was starting in January. 

For those of you who were hoping for more from me this evening, I apologize. Prayers, that I will post yet this week with some of the wonderful realizations and blessings of the past seven days.

Keep praying, especially for those who you are called to bring closer to Christ.

Consider...

"The value of life does not depend upon the place we occupy. It depends upon the way we occupy that place."

~ St. Therese of Lisieux

Questions for the New Semester

A mentor of mine once posted this set of questions to me at the beginning of a semester in college. While I've not done the greatest job of revisiting and answering them each semester, I thought they would be a great tool to share.

The couple of times I have answered these questions, they are great to look back upon and see how I have grown. If you don't have an answer for all fifteen, pick eleven to answer. Check back half way through the semester or post the questions some where you will see them regularly to remind you of the progress you should be making.  Go on and copy this list of questions into a word or pages document and make the most of your semester.

Fifteen Questions for the New Semester                                    
1. What is one thing you could do this year to grow closer to God?

2. What is the most impossible thing you will ask God to do this year?

3. What is the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your relationship with your family?

4. What is the single biggest time-waster in your life, and what is one thing you can do about it this year?
5. What is one thing you could do to learn more about your faith this year?

6. What one thing could you do to improve your prayer life this year?

7. What’s the most important decision you need to make this year?

8. What area of your life most needs simplifying, and what is one way you could simplify in that area?

9. What’s the most important need you feel burdened to meet this year?

10. What habit would you most like to establish this year?

11. Who do you most want to encourage this year? How do they best respond?

12. What is your most important financial goal this semester, and what is the most important step you can take toward achieving it?

13. What is the most important new item you want to buy this year?

14. What is the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your work life this year?

15. If those who know you best gave you one piece of advice, what would they say? Would they be right? What will you do about it?

Be true to yourself and grow as God is calling you to grow. In Him, through Mary, JKK