Most mornings at the kitchen table here at the Catholic Worker House we sit, read the newspaper and begin our day with cups of coffee. Often we all read in silence in this early stage of the day. Yet sometimes at this time of the day a story will be told.
Last week at the table I heard a true story which has impressed itself onto my memory. Someone's grandfather lived in the American Southwest. He traveled in that region selling various goods.
Once he and a companion were on a trip together on which they were planning on making some sales. One night of their journey, they didn't know where they were going to stay. They crossed paths with a family who invited them to stay with them. The grandfather and his friend took the family up on their kind offer.
Early in the morning, the grandfather's friend woke up. He said he wanted to start on the continuation of their voyage. He wanted to set out early, since he felt that by leaving early, they would be in a better position to make more sales. He was worried that if they waited to leave, others would capture the business the two of them could get for themselves.
The grandfather said he was going to stay and thank the family for their kind hospitality. So the friend left alone. The grandfather stayed a substantial amount of time that morning until the family rose from their slumber. The grandfather thanked them for being so warm and welcoming, then he continued on his way. Further down his route, by the side of the road, the grandfather soon found his friend, who had been ambushed by bandits. They had killed him.
The grandfather remained with the family so he could thank them. If he had not stayed, he too might have been murdered. He was saved by his desire to express his gratitude. We are saved when we decide to love.
When we thank someone, we love them, since we are showing our appreciation of what they have done for us. When we thank someone, we are following Jesus' commandment to love our neighbor.*
Love was shown to the grandfather. He wanted to show love in return by thanking his hosts. Not only did he have that desire, but he expressed that sentiment of gratitude by staying to thank them, despite what appeared to be the apparent cost of sales which would be seemingly lost to him.
He had set out on his journey trusting, traveling without knowing where he was going to rest his head. As it turned out, he was able to rest easy, receiving the hospitality which was graciously given to him.
Having trusted, and having been rewarded for his trust, he valued what he had received. Having realized the worth of what he had been given, in the generous spirit in which it had been given, he wanted to thank those who had hosted him.
He had also trusted by staying behind to thank the family. He trusted that all would work out financially with the sales he might not make since he was waiting to set out on the road.
Last week at the table I heard a true story which has impressed itself onto my memory. Someone's grandfather lived in the American Southwest. He traveled in that region selling various goods.
Once he and a companion were on a trip together on which they were planning on making some sales. One night of their journey, they didn't know where they were going to stay. They crossed paths with a family who invited them to stay with them. The grandfather and his friend took the family up on their kind offer.
Early in the morning, the grandfather's friend woke up. He said he wanted to start on the continuation of their voyage. He wanted to set out early, since he felt that by leaving early, they would be in a better position to make more sales. He was worried that if they waited to leave, others would capture the business the two of them could get for themselves.
The grandfather said he was going to stay and thank the family for their kind hospitality. So the friend left alone. The grandfather stayed a substantial amount of time that morning until the family rose from their slumber. The grandfather thanked them for being so warm and welcoming, then he continued on his way. Further down his route, by the side of the road, the grandfather soon found his friend, who had been ambushed by bandits. They had killed him.
The grandfather remained with the family so he could thank them. If he had not stayed, he too might have been murdered. He was saved by his desire to express his gratitude. We are saved when we decide to love.
When we thank someone, we love them, since we are showing our appreciation of what they have done for us. When we thank someone, we are following Jesus' commandment to love our neighbor.*
Love was shown to the grandfather. He wanted to show love in return by thanking his hosts. Not only did he have that desire, but he expressed that sentiment of gratitude by staying to thank them, despite what appeared to be the apparent cost of sales which would be seemingly lost to him.
He had set out on his journey trusting, traveling without knowing where he was going to rest his head. As it turned out, he was able to rest easy, receiving the hospitality which was graciously given to him.
Having trusted, and having been rewarded for his trust, he valued what he had received. Having realized the worth of what he had been given, in the generous spirit in which it had been given, he wanted to thank those who had hosted him.
He had also trusted by staying behind to thank the family. He trusted that all would work out financially with the sales he might not make since he was waiting to set out on the road.
Again, in trusting, he was rewarded. By trusting that he was to wait so he could thank his hosts, and that all would be well, he was rewarded with his own life.
In life we can be convinced that we have great plans through which we will be providing for ourselves all we need. Only God can supply for us all we require. Under our own plan, when we think we are going to be secure, in fact we may be heading into ruin.
When we encounter delays, we may think that we are being held up from accomplishing what we need to get done. When our lives fail to unfold the way that we had expected, perhaps God is saving us from calamity which would have befallen us had we continued on the path we had planned to take.
In life we can be convinced that we have great plans through which we will be providing for ourselves all we need. Only God can supply for us all we require. Under our own plan, when we think we are going to be secure, in fact we may be heading into ruin.
When we encounter delays, we may think that we are being held up from accomplishing what we need to get done. When our lives fail to unfold the way that we had expected, perhaps God is saving us from calamity which would have befallen us had we continued on the path we had planned to take.
So often we can think that we are losing, when in fact we are being saved. When we think we are losing, we are immeasurably gaining.
We think we know what is valuable, but God knows what we need. God provides it for us, and we will get it from Him, if we will only listen to what He is trying to tell us, and if we will only be where He wants us to be.
If we truly have faith, we will not worry about what we are losing. With true faith, we open our hearts to welcome whatever God is trying to give to us. Thus we become unconcerned about whether we lose what we have.
If we have love in our hearts, we will be grateful for how God has given so bounteously to us. If we love, we will be grateful for what God gives to us through our neighbor.
If we love our neighbor, we will thank our neighbor. If we love God, we will trust God.
If we are grateful and trust, we are on the right path. If we love our neighbor and love God, we will be saved.
We think we know what is valuable, but God knows what we need. God provides it for us, and we will get it from Him, if we will only listen to what He is trying to tell us, and if we will only be where He wants us to be.
If we truly have faith, we will not worry about what we are losing. With true faith, we open our hearts to welcome whatever God is trying to give to us. Thus we become unconcerned about whether we lose what we have.
If we have love in our hearts, we will be grateful for how God has given so bounteously to us. If we love, we will be grateful for what God gives to us through our neighbor.
If we love our neighbor, we will thank our neighbor. If we love God, we will trust God.
If we are grateful and trust, we are on the right path. If we love our neighbor and love God, we will be saved.
* Matthew 22:39; Mark 12:31; Luke 10:27; Leviticus 19:18; Romans 13:9; Galatians 5:14
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