Day 19
Fool For Christ
Reflection by: Joe Stritch

Today's "Habit" is about asking if I'm willing to be a "fool" for Christ, to risk appearing "foolish" in proclaiming his glory and his plan, or purpose for my life.

For so many years, I would never have considered this. I traveled the world, and saw all types of societies, all types of religions, all types of poverty and misery. I was one who asked, and scoffed, "If I must accept Jesus as my Savior in order to gain eternal salvation, then how can that explain the millions of starving children in a place like India who will never in their lives even be exposed to the concept of Christ. How could they "accept" Jesus if they've never even heard of him. Are they to be denied eternal salvation? What "fool" would try and reconcile the fundamental tenet of our faith with the harsh realities we see in contradiction every day?

I have since discovered that God, in his mercy and wisdom, has granted me two gifts that were essential, at least for me, to grow in Christ and to grow closer to him. The first is humility, and the second is acceptance. His gift of humility has enabled me to stop treating my own accomplishments as important and to stop treating the traditional temptations and goals of everyday life as so important, allowing God to assume a greater central role in my life purpose, less in conflict with all the other elements of every day living.

The second gift is acceptance. God has enabled me to fully believe in him, love him, follow him, and proclaim him, even if I cannot explain all the mysteries and miseries in today's world that seem so in conflict with his teachings and his love for us. I now understand that for me to expect to understand all of those things first before truly accepting Him as my savior is almost a form or arrogance, as if I was actually smart enough or powerful enough to be able to comprehend his mind and his plan. I now see belief in Jesus as my only way, and that complete faith in his plan for me and my salvation is the only way. I trust that all those things I don't understand, and cannot possibly hope to understand, only need to be understood by God. That is enough. What he needs me to understand, he will reveal to me. I figure that anything else will be revealed to me in heaven. And THAT is enough!

I know that now I CAN be that "fool" for Christ, and am more than willing to appear "foolish" proclaiming His glory, His truth, His message, and His love to all those that have not yet found a way to understand, or "accept". I know that when they do, they too will receive the joy and peace inside that only he can grant.