"One single good work done with a tranquil spirit is
worth far more than several done with over-eagerness."
- St. Francis de Sales
Hearing God's Call for Us
By Muriel Croston, History Teacher
Many days, the world seems to be spinning faster than ever. Perhaps it's technology that makes it feel that way. It can be hard to find time for quiet and reflection. It makes me think of a popular quote that says, "When you cannot sleep at night, have you ever thought maybe it's God saying, 'we need to talk and now you have time.'" Surely, we can make more time for God in our lives. If we spend time pressing pause on our other life demands, we can more clearly hear God's call for us. We can lose that overeagerness of checking off all the right boxes or trying to do it all.
When we really look at the world around us, we can become overwhelmed with so many problems, from poverty to the environment to international relations, and beyond. At times, we can become paralyzed by this, and at other times, overeager - thinking we must solve all of the world's problems right now. But, if we really invest in how we can make the world better, not only will we better aid our cause, but we'll also reap more rewards from it.
It was with this idea in mind that I assigned a project this past spring in which my Global Patterns I students had to develop an action plan to make the world better in some way. They were to find a seed of inspiration in the content we discussed in class. Many of them were quite overwhelmed at first, unsure how they - as individual teenage girls - could make the world better.
After thoughtful reflection and a consideration of their own gifts and talents, they each came up with a plan. Some were called to help locally by sharing their musical or foreign language talents with those in retirement homes, while others developed plans to support girls' education or environmental issues around the world. My hope was that if they listened long enough, they may begin to see where they are being called by God to serve now.
A quote from Pope Francis seems apt here: "And through good works, that we do for our neighbor with love and good cheer, our faith germinates and bears fruit." It's not necessarily the quantity of those fruits that matters most, but the quality. If we're quiet for a while and really listen, we will hear God's call. It's then that we'll plant even more trees. It is through God's touch that by feeding others, we also feed ourselves. What matters most is where we start - with the ego or with the spirit.
Live Jesus
Live, Jesus, Live ... so live in me
That all I do be done by thee.
And grant that all I think and say
May be thy thoughts and words today.
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