I have had an important revelation over the past recent days. It comes down to something very simple…
First, let’s be clear. I recognized the Holy Spirit as “the living presence of God in the Church. He keeps the Church going, keeps the Church moving forward. More and more, beyond the limits, onwards.” Continuing a comment from Pope Francis last year, “the Holy Spirit with His gifts guides the Church. You cannot understand the Church of Jesus without this Paraclete, whom the Lord sends us for this very reason. And He makes unthinkable choices, but unimaginable! To use a word of St. John XXIII: it is the Holy Spirit that updates the Church: Really, he really updates it and keeps it going.”
The Spirit provides vision and fuel towards getting towards the destination. Yet, I have been misunderstanding my own role in this movement.
“And we Christians must ask the Lord for the grace of docility to the Holy Spirit. Docility in this Spirit, who speaks to us in our heart, who speaks to us in all of life’s circumstances, who speaks to us in the Church’s life, in Christian communities, who is always speaking to us,” Francis said, concluding his homily.
I almost always operate out of a reasonably strong sense of vision. I believe that I understand where it is that I am called to be. And yet, there have been many times where I have seemed to have fallen short of my destination… Even worse, there I times that I never seem to get movement on it at all. The destination becomes a source of frustration more than inspiration. And, you know what is the problem. I have misunderstood being docile.
I have (re)discovered, in recent days, my own responsibility in driving towards a vision. I have taken myself out of Park and tapped the acceleration pedal. As should have been expected, yet amazingly, movement happened. Good movement, positive movement, moving in the right direction movement.
In he end, I have to believe that it is a Spirit-infused sort of combustion that has me going. It takes courage to tap that pedal, it takes a sense of knowledge and wisdom to set the direction. I can attach all the catch phrases of “Jesus being my co-pilot” or “take the steering wheel, Jesus”, but, for now, my mantra is
Just Drive, Baby!
