Just Do It!

 

While it’s easy to dismiss the disciples’ request (Luke 17: 5-10) for "more faith" as trivial, don’t we sometimes feel somewhat lacking in our fiath as the disciples did? In typical human fashion we have this notion that faith is something we can measure and naturally want more of it. But can you blame the disciples or us? After spending the summer reading Luke’s Gospels we sometimes ask who in the world can live up to Jesus’ expectations as characterized in the parables. Is it any wonder that we feel inadequate and think we need more faith?

We sometimes feel overwhelmed by what it is we think it means to be a “good Christian,” indulging in self-doubt, not quite sure if we really have what it takes to follow Jesus. It’s only human to think that being a disciple is beyond our human abilities and out of reach. But isn’t that the whole point? We are only human and God loves us for our humanity, reminding us that faith rarely is heroic and we need to manage our expectations accordingly. 

When I truly accept that we are spiritual beings on the way to our creator having a human experience faith takes on new meaning. Yet, can we really define what is undefinable. When we feel daunted by the ego's wallowing in inadequacy we need to remember that living our lives in faith can be pretty ordinary. It’s what Theresa of Avilla calls the “pots and pans of life.”  I think that’s what Jesus meant when he compared faith to a tiny mustard seed that grows quietly and beyond any expectation. It’s not about quantity; all God wants is for us to just be. Even the simplest things done with love and compassion can have a huge impact.

And so Jesus tells his us that we have all the God-given opportunities to do whatever it is that needs to be done. It’s all the ordinary stuff we do all the time and, taken together and blessed by God, it’s pretty extraordinary! And just like the Nike slogan, Just Do It!