Action and Calling

Greetings,
        Today's posting is in response to something another dear friend wrote on her blog. Please excuse the one on one phraseology but it seemed the best way to answer the question.

Staci,
        Your question seems to be "Have I done enough? If not, am I doing enough now?" As one who has been right there, wondering the same thing may I posit this answer?

        Paul was right that action is at the center of courage. Just as courage is the form of all virtue at the moment of the test, so is action the outward manifestation of courage. Now before you buy yourself a radical headband and matching boots let's look a bit deeper at this.

        Our faith calls us to action on behalf of those who cannot defend themselves. That seems inescapable but we should be careful to consider the nature of the action. The best example that comes to mind is Lazarus and the Rich Man (tRM). tRM was condemned for not acting with mercy and compassion towards Lazarus. A stark admonition to those of us who live in staggering opulence compared to the vast majority of people in the world. Yet what is actually requested of tRM and therefore us?

        tRM was not asked to leave his home and travel to Syria or Egypt to help the indigent lying in those streets. His call was to help Lazarus, who lay at his very door. The near, personal mercy was the call. We must guard against discounting the local and personal things we do, without shouting, marching or making a fuss. These are the foundational virtues of our faith, just as the petty infighting, dishonesty and infidelity are the sins which erode that foundation.

        Remember too there is a pitfall to joining in with demonstrations worth noting at this point. Within any group who are upset about a thing done or not done are people who have different, even antithetical reasons for standing against the action. Standing in the crowd with them gives mutual support, but are we supporting what we truly believe? We may find a certain business man's actions to be venal, grasping and selfish; as Christians we wish his redemption not his demise. Furthermore it is improbable that he is the blackest of villains. Yet if we join into a protest we may well stand with those who see him as historically wicked and wish him harm. To avoid that association it may be proper for us to not be a part of that group.

        I have avoided joining certain groups encouraged and supported from the pulpits precisely because there are advocates in those groups which embrace violence or willful ignorance. I'll have none of that either. When groups I have supported on this or that issue, have veered into demagoguery I've dropped them. There is one group in particular who advocated strenuously against our most recent disastrous war. I gave them money and support. But they have lost that simple direct focus and now are behaving in ways that harm the cause of peace rather than promote it. As Bono would say, "I'd join the Movement, if there was one I could believe in."

        Now let's consider our vocations for a moment. A nurse or physician has the opportunity to perform direct corporal works of mercy as part of their daily work. This is not to be discounted as less than virtue simply because it is compensated. Our day jobs are part of our calling. The pipe fitter no less than the priest are called to act with justice and prudence in the exercise of their duties. When we act within our jobs with dedication and care, seeking the best that we can make of the world through our work, we are living into our faith. Christ calls us to this. To live fully and genuinely in all that we do. Remember the soldier who asked what he should do, he was not told to stop soldiering, but to act justly within the vocation he had. The results of our jobs may not get on CNN but it is worthy and blessed if done in the spirit of Christ.

        Furthermore what is the point of the protests, mailings and lobbying but to change the world for the betterment of all? This is at the heart of our Christian calling as well, but there are great ways to do this which are not flashy and attention grabbing. Staci, you and I were called to something very important. We were graced with boys to raise into men worthy of the name. It's been said, children are arrows shot into the future. This principle is ever before my eyes. It implies the final result of that launch is unknown but what we do to influence the trajectory remains of great importance. You have raised your young men, I'm still in the midst of raising mine. Nothing we will ever do will influence the state of the world as much as raising good men. If we wish to make a more just world and we raise men who love justice more than life, then we have done a powerful, grace-full thing which brings a smile to the face of God.

        There Staci is the courage and action together which answers your question. You've missed nothing. You've been a part of Christ's calling, which of course, is everything.

        Ad Astra Per Aspera,
        Kevin