“…If you are there in the middle of ordinary life, it doesn't mean Christ has forgotten about you or hasn’t called you. (Saint Josemaria, “Christ is Passing” at 20).
I have spent a lot of years observing children.
I observed them when I taught them – as I have done for more than half my life. I observed them after I gave birth to my own children. And I have observed them as I have watched my nieces and nephews and the children of my friends as they grow and develop…
One of the most interesting things about observing children is how much time and effort is required in teaching a child to share. Children have no natural inclination to share with others – particularly with other children. Most toddlers will argue and fight and throw tantrums rather than handing over a toy to another toddler or a sibling or even a friend.
And so, many mothers and fathers spend many hours playing a sort of game with their toddlers, asking for a bite of their food or a play with a toy. And they do this – whether they realise it or not – because they can control the outcome of the event. By having a mother ask for the taste of the food, she will ensure that she does not eat it all and leave the toddler some food as well, which teaches the toddler to trust that they will be able to keep some of the yummy food even though they have offered to share it. By the mother asking to play with a toy, she is teaching her child that though someone may play with a toy, they will return it when they have finished with it. If we were to try such things for the first time with another child or toddler, we would risk being unable to guarantee that the other toddler (who also needs to learn to share) will be willing to return the toy when they are done.
And because we know that there are many different levels of selflessness involved with sharing, parents are often present on both sides of the transaction between toddlers, guiding their child and encouraging them to share and hand over the toy in question…
And I have been reflecting on this as I have been reflecting on the Holy Will of God. You see, my obedience to the Holy Will of God is not unlike a toddler sharing a toy.
Saint Josemaria wrote in “Christ is Passing” at 20, “…if you are there in the middle of ordinary life, it doesn't mean Christ has forgotten about you or hasn’t called you. He has invited you to stay among the activities and concerns of the world. He wants you to know that your human vocation, your profession, your talents, are not omitted from his divine plans. He has sanctified them and made them a most acceptable offering to his Father.”
And just as toddlers have parents on both sides to assist them in sharing, I have my Guardian Angel and the whole communion of Saints (and even God Himself) on hand to help me to cast off my selfishness and selflessly follow the Holy Will of God.
And I have been thinking about that today. Because it seems to me that I am blessed beyond measure… And that is a truly marvellous thing…
For with prayer, I stand on Holy Ground where everything is clear. Here. At the Foot of the Cross.
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