St Therese Had a "Little Way" - What's Yours?
The Sisters of Charity taught us about St Therese of Lisieux in grammar school. Unfortunately, the older and more "sophisticated" I got, she seemed more like a saint for little kids and maybe girls. She didn't seem like a man's type of saint.
She had a "nick-name": The Little Flower. That kind of reinforced my silly perception.
Then one day I read "Story of a Soul." St Therese wrote it at the instruction of her spiritual director. I'm not going to go into what she says in it right now. Just know that once you read it, you'll understand why this little, cloistered French nun who died at the age of 24 was named a "Doctor of the Church." That puts here in the company of St Thomas Aquinas, St Bonaventure, St Anselm, et al. In short, she's not just a saint for little kids and girls.
Since here feast day was this past Saturday (October 1st) and since I now have a special devotion to her, I wanted to remind all you guys that not only should you read "The Story of a Soul," but that, like St Therese, you should think about what your own "Little Way" might be.
Is it starting work each day promptly, not shrinking from weariness and difficulties throughout the day, being charitable to all you come into contact with - even cheerful (one of my toughest challenges) - even in the teeth of a tough day?
Whatever it might be, know this: it's probably more important for you to focus on little things throughout the work day than it is to do something big.
There's a saying in business: "Don't sweat the small stuff." While there's some wisdom in that, i.e., keeping your focus on the "big picture," making sure you're working towards your serious business goals and objectives rather than just doing "busy work," don't let this dissuade or distract your from your "Little Way."
Your Little Way has nothing to do with busy work. It has nothing to do with wasting time on trivial things and not keeping your focus on what's important.
Your Little Way ultimately will help you sanctify your work, grow closer to God, and (by God's grace) get to Heaven. It's not little at all. There's lots of big stuff - really the Biggest Stuff - in your Little Way.
So if you don't know St Therese all that well, if you haven't read "Story of a Soul" and, most importantly, if you don't have a Little Way yet, do yourself a favor and get one. Get down to the little things that really make the difference between just working and working your way towards Heaven.
St Therese, please pray for us working men. Help us to perform our Little Way with attention and devotion this day and every day.
She had a "nick-name": The Little Flower. That kind of reinforced my silly perception.
Then one day I read "Story of a Soul." St Therese wrote it at the instruction of her spiritual director. I'm not going to go into what she says in it right now. Just know that once you read it, you'll understand why this little, cloistered French nun who died at the age of 24 was named a "Doctor of the Church." That puts here in the company of St Thomas Aquinas, St Bonaventure, St Anselm, et al. In short, she's not just a saint for little kids and girls.
Since here feast day was this past Saturday (October 1st) and since I now have a special devotion to her, I wanted to remind all you guys that not only should you read "The Story of a Soul," but that, like St Therese, you should think about what your own "Little Way" might be.
Is it starting work each day promptly, not shrinking from weariness and difficulties throughout the day, being charitable to all you come into contact with - even cheerful (one of my toughest challenges) - even in the teeth of a tough day?
Whatever it might be, know this: it's probably more important for you to focus on little things throughout the work day than it is to do something big.
There's a saying in business: "Don't sweat the small stuff." While there's some wisdom in that, i.e., keeping your focus on the "big picture," making sure you're working towards your serious business goals and objectives rather than just doing "busy work," don't let this dissuade or distract your from your "Little Way."
Your Little Way has nothing to do with busy work. It has nothing to do with wasting time on trivial things and not keeping your focus on what's important.
Your Little Way ultimately will help you sanctify your work, grow closer to God, and (by God's grace) get to Heaven. It's not little at all. There's lots of big stuff - really the Biggest Stuff - in your Little Way.
So if you don't know St Therese all that well, if you haven't read "Story of a Soul" and, most importantly, if you don't have a Little Way yet, do yourself a favor and get one. Get down to the little things that really make the difference between just working and working your way towards Heaven.
St Therese, please pray for us working men. Help us to perform our Little Way with attention and devotion this day and every day.
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