Most writers and presenters have favorite stories or folktales they like to share with others. One of mine involves a pastor who decided to hire a gardener for the poorly kept parish grounds.
Year-round, the wizened gardener worked diligently, preparing the soil, weeding, planting, pruning, and nurturing the plants with great attention. One fine day, the pastor strolled out into the flowering wonderland with a neighboring priest, anxious to show off the magnificent new creation.
Gesturing to the many different plants and flowers, the pastor said, “I praise God for all of his handiwork!”
With clippers in hand, the gardener stepped out from behind a bush and chastised the pastor, saying, “Don’t you go giving all the credit to God! Just remember what this place looked like before I got here and God had it all to himself!”
At an educator’s conference, I used this story to stress the importance of the work Catholic educators do on God’s behalf, preparing the soil, planting seeds of faith, and nurturing their growth as co-creators with God.
But I’ve realized the story has another lesson: You tell the world what—and who—you love by giving your attention.
Henry Miller wrote, “The moment one gives close attention to anything, even a blade of grass, it becomes a mysterious, awesome, indescribably magnificent world in itself.”
Imagine the change that would take place in our lives if we gave that kind of attention to other people; if we listened when they talked, if we remembered what they liked and disliked, discerned what they needed, and were as present to them as we are to our favorite pastimes.
In an April meditation in which he reflected on the coronavirus in light of Jesus’ Resurrection, Pope Francis spoke about the strength of the women who followed Jesus, reminding us that they found ways to overcome all obstacles simply “by being and accompanying.”
This kind of presence is not always easy, especially during times that challenge us mentally and physically, but it is possible when we open ourselves to the work of the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Father encourages us to remember it is “the breath of the Spirit that opens horizons, sparks creativity and renews brotherhood and makes us say, ‘I’m present’ in the face of the enormous and urgent task that awaits us.”
Still, there are days when I honestly feel like I don’t have the energy to give attention to anything or anyone, even myself. Through prayer I’ve learned to give myself the time I need to be restored, and am encouraged by words attributed to Mother Teresa which remind me that even the smallest of efforts can make a difference: “I don’t have to change the world all by myself, but I can cast a stone across the water to create many ripples.”
Mary Regina Morrell is a Catholic journalist, author, and syndicated columnist who has served the dioceses of Metuchen and Trenton, New Jersey, and RENEW International in the areas of catechesis and communication.
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