Success this fall

If at first you do succeed, try something harder! We do not have to be first, best or different but we should be first, best or different in our EFFORT.

We are told there are four rungs on the small ladder of success: 1) Plan Purposefully, 2) Prepare Prayerfully, 3) Proceed Positively, 4) Pursue Persistently!

St. James, in our second reading for the Liturgy, gives us the admonition, “Be doers of the Word and not Hearers only.” Moses, in the first reading, tells the people the importance of the law that he is teaching them, that following it marks them as “wise and intelligent.”

Yet, Jesus in the Gospel of Mark, criticizes the Pharisees and Scribes for following the letter of the law, because they have not grasped the spirit of the law. Thus their observation of the law is empty. All these words really mean that we are to have a living faith that is authentic and leads from heart to mind to action.

True love for God and neighbor is not something we just think about, but something we must do. However, is not just doing but making sure there is a spirit of love, concern, forgiveness and gentle care behind the doing?

It is not just fidelity to the law that matters but we must connect the law to heart and mind! We must be aware that we may not have success in this task but we must be first, best and different in our effort. Charity and justice are inseparable in our fully connected life! Our love of the invisible God becomes visible in mutual respect; public and personal integrity, generosity and humility. Thus success means mind, heart and body make an effort to be ONE! Our love for neighbor is not an objective thing but a heart to heart, eye to eye thing.

As we begin a new school year, it is important that children have a good self-image of themselves and yet are real in knowing both their strengths and weaknesses and are willing to work on both! So often, we seem to stress the weakness and do not mirror out a smile, a sense of joy, happiness and success to one another.

Basically, if we get mirrored well early in life, we do not have to spend the rest of our life looking into the mirror begging for attention or the approval of others. If you have already been attended to and feel basically good then you were mirrored well. Now you are free to mirror others and honestly and helpfully bring out their best and help them with their weaknesses. We need to daily pray so that we strive to gaze upon the image of God, and He upon us, and then with that sense of love and hope we can share those qualities with others. We must connect with the best in each person for real success. We all love that gaze of acceptance, approval, affirmation and love and we need to share it with others.

We cannot be forced to love God or Neighbor or even ourselves.

We have a choice to put our thoughts, words and actions together. We are all wise and intelligent. As we believe that about ourselves, we can believe it about others! Jesus’ frustration with the Pharisees, and with us at times, is that we do not connect our belief and our worship with how we actually live. Mirror a positive spirit of love and forgiveness for yourself, God and Neighbor as we begin a new school year. Notice the gaze back to you of a positive spirit of mind, heart and soul and that is real success.

Purposefully, Prayerful, Persistently and Positive people are an endangered species so help the cause this new fall season!