Christian Living

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Turning A New Leaf
(c) 2005
by

Stephen A. Peterson


It was Saturday, February 5, 2005. I sat in Saint Therese Roman Catholic Church in Seattle, Washington four days before Ash Wednesday and the beginning of the Lenten season. Listening to the priest’s homily regarding the readings of the day, I began considering what I was going to do during the forty-six days of the Lenten season (February 9th to March 26th. Sundays are not considered as days of Lent. Lent is said to be 40 days).

Someone in a nearby pew dropped what seemed to either be a prayer or hymn book, jarring me back to the priest’s voice and homily.

“There was a young lady who painting a picture of Joan of Arc,” the priest said. “The picture was so beautiful that her religious education teacher called the other students over to see and note the beauty of her painting as well as her progress.

“Weeks went by and finally the painting of the young saint was completed. the next week following its completion, the young teen planned to have a frame made but some time between class periods, water from the air conditioning system fell onto the painting causing the paint to run. What a mess!”

“The teen was heartbroken. She said to her teacher,”My painting is totally ruined.”

“However, her teacher thought differently. “Oh, no, it’s not! The real work you did was not on this paper. The real work was what you learned in your mind. You should use what you’ve learned to bring out an even better picture that is now in your mind and heart.”

As the priest finished his homily, he said two words understood by every American soldier. He said: “Drive on! Just because you have lost a battle does not mean you’ve lost the war!”

I’m certain that we’ve all been told to put one’s failures behind them but on this Saturday just before Lent I’ve been told to leave successes behind as well! Strange! May be not!

In spite of what many often think, how can be done! Success and all of its trappings are what most people live by and for. Thinking about what the priest said makes a great deal of sense. Perseverance and humility not satisfaction, is what enables me to grow nearer to the person of Jesus Christ and what He would have me to do and want me to be. Our past failures AND successes are to be for the glory and honor of Jesus Christ. To learn what it is that He wants us to do for His everlasting kingdom should be our goal in life.

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