While
coaching my daughter’s soccer team a few years back, I invited Katherine, an
accomplished high school soccer player, to work with my ten-year-old girls for
one practice. After teaching them a trap-and-kick exercise, she gathered the
team together and told the girls, “You have to keep practicing this drill, but
you must realize that practice doesn’t make perfect.” Several kids raised their
hands and replied, “My mom said if I practice my violin, I’ll play my piece
perfectly,” or “If I practice my dance steps, I will become perfect…”
Katherine
looked at them and said that what they have been told was a lie. I held my
breath waiting for this sixteenyear-old girl’s explanation. She boldly said,
“Practice doesn’t make perfect, practice makes permanent.” That bit of wisdom resonated
within my heart and is an important model for our spiritual lives. Practice
makes permanent! Indeed, our patterns and behavior will set into motion the
direction of our lives. The way we pray and prioritize our spiritual life, the
way we speak, the way we love, the way we respond to conflict; all have been
consciously or unconsciously practiced over the years and have become a
permanent part of our life.
We often
find ourselves practicing what the world tells us is important, as found with
the daily bombardment of commercials, music, news, self-help books, fad diets,
products and ideas that can present a treasury of empty promises. We are told
we will be happy, sexy, rich or successful if we simply purchase a certain
product, take an energy supplement, read a particular book, subscribe to a
tested financial plan or try the next exciting “special offer.”
Our life
then becomes a continuous search for the next thing that will fulfill us—the
next thing that will bring us happiness. What are we practicing and making
permanent? Is it a cycle of false hopes, wishes and worries? Or are we
practicing patience, compassion and love?
Jesus
tells us that the eye is the lamp of the body and our body will be full of
light if our eye is clear (Matthew 6:22). Our eyes and ears are the gateway to
the soul. Just as the practice of eating healthy food helps nourish a healthy
body, what we practice receiving with our eyes and ears affects the health of
our souls. How are we engaging with our family? What are we watching? What
music are we listening to? What conversations are we having that help
strengthen our relationship with God and one another?
The
information we digest will impact and shape us, whether we know it or not. As
Orthodox Christians, we must be vigilant and watchful of the messages we
receive and careful of the words that we speak to one another. All have a vital
influence upon our souls. We must be intentionally mindful of what actually
feeds the soul—resisting words, images and conversations that distract us from
living a life of true holiness.
The
Church implores us to be selective about what we see, hear and do, as we strive
to make choices that edify our souls. We are invited to examine what we
practice in our lives, to see where we devote our time, energy and thoughts. We
need to take a hard look at our daily schedule. Are we spending enough
uninterrupted time with our families? Are we eating meals on the run? Are we
taking time in prayer to be still with God? Are we reaching out to others who
are in need?
This
week, make it a point to notice what you look at, what you listen to, what you
read and what you say. St. Basil says, “We should not be deceived by the
corrupting delights of this world, but rather become strengthened in the desire
to attain the treasures of the world to come.” Consider practicing and making
permanent the action of love, the gift of compassion and the practice of being
truly alive.
Our Lord
constantly reminds us that He wants to help us write a new story of life
centered in His love, His will and His purpose. God transforms our
relationships and He promises to restore us and help redirect our path to a new
way of living. Jesus says, “Behold, I make all things new” (Revelation 21:5).
He is
speaking to each one us. He offers us transformation from old to new, from
broken to whole, from sorrow to joy, and from death to life. May we “show up”
and “wake up” so we can become renewed people living out this promise as we
practice loving God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, and to love
our neighbor as ourselves (Luke 10:27).
Mother
Maria of Paris said, “No amount of thought will ever result in any greater
formulation than the three words, ‘Love one another,’ so long as it is love to
the end and without exceptions. And then the whole of life is illumined…”
(Essential Writings, page 19).
Remember:
Practice makes permanent!
By Fr.
Tom Tsagalakis
Source: https://s3.amazonaws.com/praxis-magazine/Praxis-v14-2-2015-Winter.pdf
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