A Sense For Small Things

    It's late and I should be in bed, but I finally found my old blog and couldn't resist reviving it. After sharing my thoughts via email for three years, a few people asked if I would keep writing and I couldn't see why not.  If people like it, and it helps a little I suppose it's right up my alley. I breathe. I write. It's not complicated.

    But there's a moment when, doing what God has given us the grace to do, the Holy Spirit enters in--not to make us important, but to help others through us. I wouldn't be here today if other people hadn't let God use them. I like to think it's my turn.

    What have I learned, since I became a Secular Franciscan? I was younger when I started and had lots more energy. I was ready to do Big Things and I believed that would make God happy. But looking at my life I understand that I haven't really understood. With God, it isn't the Big Things, it's the little, small, everyday things that he enters into and uses to touch others.

    Secular Franciscans want to help Christ build his Kingdom. Every Christian shares the same call, not to win wars or conquer nations, but to win the daily battle of our own, complicated selves, to allow God to dwell in our ordinary humanness. This really is the "secret" of Franciscan life.  We work within our daily living, to be peacemakers, to be merciful, to be humble (no kidding!) To listen. To speak honestly. To care for all creation...

    It's not that being Franciscan makes us different. I think being Franciscan helps us understand how connected we are with everyone, how much we need each other to become the best person we can be. In every form and challenge of human life, by following the example of Francis of Assisi, the Holy Spirit completes and empowers our human dignity, to the point where we can help others find themselves. 

    It's the reason we are here. God made us human so that we can help bring humanity to fullness in him.

    It's a remarkable journey.