Thursday, December 25, 2008
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
BLESS THIS BECOMING
by Stephen Morris
Having recently entered a period of discernment, I had the good fortune of being able to bring my matters before a good and holy priest friend of mine. He told me of a story from a time when he was at a similar crossroads. He took his question before his own spiritual director, who offered the following advice: "Friend, God doesn't give a SHIT what path you walk down..." (dramatic pause) "...what matters to God is HOW how you walk it."
It was a eureka moment for me. Of course! God must be aware of our circumstances, our contexts, our abilities, our influences.... and if God is as wise, just and merciful as I believe Him to be, then God must not be inherently results-driven; rather God must be infinitely more interested in our own unique process of growth and healing.
And as I have had time to further reflect on this insight I would like to add something. It's not that God doesn't care what path we're on; its that by virtue of the way we walk, our path will change and shift accordingly. The way we walk in itself determines where we go. One who walks upright and truthfully is less likely to choose a path leading to darkness and deception.
So now when I pray, I pray in the humility of knowing that it's not up to me to be a great producer for God. Of course that would be pleasing to God, but I have come to understand that if I set my sights on my conduct, my desires, my little circle of relationships, and doing my best with what I have been given, then God will accomplish those greater things through me, should He so choose. So rather than praying for the accomplishment of spectacular goals, I think it is more fruitful to simply pray that God may simply bless this becoming.
Having recently entered a period of discernment, I had the good fortune of being able to bring my matters before a good and holy priest friend of mine. He told me of a story from a time when he was at a similar crossroads. He took his question before his own spiritual director, who offered the following advice: "Friend, God doesn't give a SHIT what path you walk down..." (dramatic pause) "...what matters to God is HOW how you walk it."
It was a eureka moment for me. Of course! God must be aware of our circumstances, our contexts, our abilities, our influences.... and if God is as wise, just and merciful as I believe Him to be, then God must not be inherently results-driven; rather God must be infinitely more interested in our own unique process of growth and healing.
And as I have had time to further reflect on this insight I would like to add something. It's not that God doesn't care what path we're on; its that by virtue of the way we walk, our path will change and shift accordingly. The way we walk in itself determines where we go. One who walks upright and truthfully is less likely to choose a path leading to darkness and deception.
So now when I pray, I pray in the humility of knowing that it's not up to me to be a great producer for God. Of course that would be pleasing to God, but I have come to understand that if I set my sights on my conduct, my desires, my little circle of relationships, and doing my best with what I have been given, then God will accomplish those greater things through me, should He so choose. So rather than praying for the accomplishment of spectacular goals, I think it is more fruitful to simply pray that God may simply bless this becoming.
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