My Clothes Rack Gives A Good Example!

Usually, it stands unnoticed in the corner of my office.  It is as convenient and unromantic as its neighbor, the water cooler.  Yet, when it rains and snows, my coat rack patiently holds out its hooks to embrace my scarf, coat, and gloves. Long in service, short on looks, it makes up in good will what it lacks in beauty.  As I reflect on its presence, I often think every wallflower can blossom.  We all have potential for greatness.

Each year we are given new offers and opportunities for personal reflection and growth.  It’s a true gift from our loving God.  However, and as we often do, we focus on the things we don’t do well, and continue to wonder if we ever will get it right.

Here’s where my clothes rack can teach us a marvelous lesson.

We all have a purpose and it shines through even if we think it doesn’t.  Through God’s love, we do blossom!  The Lord never measures us by our last mistake, but only sees what is possible in the next moment?   This is the God of mercy and love that Pope Francis is asking us to think more about as we live this year in front of us.  God is always ready to forget the past, and invite us into our future with excitement, hope and promise.

Unlike my very boring clothes rack, St. Francis de Sales writes to remind us that God is with us each step of the way--as it is God’s presence which is the very foundation for our greatness.  De Sales writes:

“Let us go forward to serve God with our whole heart and life.  Beyond that, let us have no care about tomorrow.”