Be intentional, take action

Deadlines. They haunt me, but I need them. Maybe it’s the adrenaline rush or the prompting to let a project go, but I credit deadlines for pushing me to action. Setting targets and cut off points, both at work and home, pushes me to reach my goals. Otherwise “mañana” finds a way into my day and I give myself a pass to put off something I want to accomplish.

The seven-year-old protagonist, Pepper, in the movie “Little Boy,” became intentional with his actions after his priest gave him a list of the corporal works of mercy. He found strength in carrying out each task by answering a question his father asked frequently, “Do you believe we can do this?” It’s a question for each of us as we look at our own list this Year of Mercy.

If we are not deliberate in scheduling time, our good intentions will never move forward. Bishop Daniel E. Flores in his column, “Mercy is a work,” encouraged us to try “during the Year of Mercy, not simply to think pious things related to mercy, but rather to search for how we can attend to those who suffer.” He said, “An attitude doesn’t make us merciful; searching for ways to alleviate suffering is the step that God asks us to take in order for us to enter the mystery that he began with his Incarnation.”

One of my favorite poems by Emily Dickinson illustrates what happens when we don’t move beyond thinking to doing. She writes,

A DEED knocks first at thought,
And then it knocks at will.
That is the manufacturing spot,
And will at home and well.

It then goes out an act,
Or is entombed so still
That only to the ear of God
Its doom is audible.”

Unfortunately there have been times when a good intention goes “entombed” because of my failure to act. It is one of the reasons I set deadlines for myself and make lists. The CommitTo3 app is a helpful tool to track and follow through with the items on my list. The more specific the better. “We live in a world of unlimited choice,” said Michael Kripalani who developed the app. “The trick is to decide which things are really worth doing at any given time.”

I think the liturgical celebrations – Advent, Christmas, Lent and Easter, work in the same way. They help refocus us and make us more intentional on our faith journey. During Lent, some families commit to praying the Stations of the Cross each Friday; others dedicate time to praying the Rosary together. This Easter season, which continues through the Feast of the Pentecost on May 15, might serve as a good time to consider how intentional we are with our time. 

Here are five steps that can help us:
1. Determine what you want to be more intentional about.
2. Set clear goals and measurable objectives. It’s easy to say I want to practice the corporal works of mercy, but it’s more specific to say I am going to visit my sick aunt on Sundays after Mass.
3. Look at your calendar. What do you have scheduled? Is what matters listed? Set aside dates and times for what you want to do.
4. Share your plan with someone. We are more likely to follow though if we are held accountable.
5. Commit to your list and do it.

Bishop Flores, at the Stewardship Conference March 10, reflected on the scripture in John 5:17, “My father is at work until now and so am I.” He said we all have work to do to help build the Church. “We all have something to do, something to offer, something to build.” “We need to ask ourselves,” said Bishop Flores, “Where should I be, and what should I be doing?”

Pope Francis in Mexico City stressed “todos somos necesarios.” (We are all necessary.) He also invited the bishops in Mexico City, to give themselves “tirelessly, tirelessly and fearlessly to the task of evangelizing and deepening the faith…” “Los invito a cansarse, a cansarse sin miedo de la tarea de evangelizar y de profundizar la fe…” I think this is an invitation for each of us. 

In this issue of The Valley Catholic, we find examples of people who are being intentional and working tirelessly – Benedictine Sisters Rosalia Fink and Jeannine Spain, both in their 80s, who are helping women who have experienced domestic violence; Ofelia de los Santos, director of jail ministry, and Ezequiel “Zeke” Martinez and other volunteers, who work in jail ministry; Cecilia Abbott, the first lady of Texas, who is a pro-life advocate; Martin and Angelita Leal who founded pregnancy centers in Brownsville and Harlingen; and Sister Mary Ann Potts, who plays the piano each Sunday at Mass.

The fruits of their labor are a result of their commitment to waking each morning and saying ‘yes’ to the work before them. What are we saying ‘yes’ to? And what action are we taking?

(Originally published in April 2016 edition of The Valley Catholic newspaper)