Excellence as a virtue
It's closer than you think
A few weeks ago in Mass, we read the infamous story of David’s transgression — the one where David sees Bathsheba bathing on a roof, calls her to come see him, sleeps with her, and, when she becomes pregnant, has her husband Uriah killed in battle.
It’s not a great story. If you’re of my generation, you may have first encountered it as “King George and the Rubber Ducky” — the VeggieTales retelling in which David sees Uriah bathing with a rubber ducky and decides he wants it for his own. No matter how you water the tale down, it’s a grim one.
During Fr. Joe’s homily that day, he said something that has stuck with me since: David’s sin didn’t start with murder — it didn’t even start with the adultery. His first sin happened at the very beginning of the reading: “At the time of year when kings go out to battle… David stayed behind.”
God called David to be king, and part of the job of being king is leading your people into battle. Instead of doing his job, David stayed home. Maybe he was tired or afraid or just didn’t want to, but no matter his reason, David’s initial disobedience opened the door to everything that followed.
There’s one simple question David could have asked himself to prevent the fallout: Am I doing what God is asking me to do right now?
I think sometimes I get distracted or so far ahead of myself that I miss what God is inviting me to do in the present. I experienced this personally last week: I was traveling for work and traffic was worse than expected, so it was taking me a long time to get from one place to the next. I had the option to head to the airport and go home, or push my flight a few hours and finish my visits. The week before, I’d chosen to go home early, and something about it hadn’t sat right with me. It wasn’t wrong… it just didn’t feel excellent. So last week, with David on my mind, I changed my flight and stayed a few more hours to get my job done, well. And the fruit of that decision, which I felt the Holy Spirit invite me to make, was stronger relationships and a better outcome for our program.
Much like David, we are called to be present, to be excellent wherever God has us. And although He hasn’t called me to be king (yet ;) ), God has called me to specific work and a specific place right now. And I can trust that in that, He is calling me to be excellent — and providing me with every grace I need to respond well.
Where is God asking you to be excellent right now?
In Christ,
Jane
What I’m loving lately
Celebrating Tally!!
It was an absolute joy to celebrate the wedding of my friends Matt and Tally in Denver this weekend! Tally has always been such a light and encouragement to me, and from meeting so many of her friends this weekend, it was evident how well she points all of us to Jesus. Please pray for the Moys as they begin their next adventure together!
Wonder, noticing, and compliments
My beloved friend Alison completed a challenge last year in which she aimed to compliment one stranger every day. I thought that was such a lovely thing to do, and I’ve been trying to implement that in my own life. Over the past week, I’ve approached two of my Pilates coaches to thank them for teaching great classes, ran into my favorite YouTuber on the street and told her I loved her channel, and complimented a lady’s pink fur coat on the plane train. Each of these encounters spurred a fun conversation! I know how much it means when people reach out to thank me for something or share something that made them think of me, so I want to do more of that for others!
Obsessed with Olympics garb!!
These J Crew US Ski team sweaters are SO cute!! I love all of the brand partnerships around the Olympics — they are so much fun. I bet I would ski so fast if I had this hot quarter zip!!
He is trustworthy
I loved this reflection from “Pray More Novenas”:
The question isn’t, “Do I trust God?” The question is, “Is He trustworthy?”
Yes, the Lord is trustworthy. It is hard to understand His ways because sometimes He does draw us to the desert... But why? So we are more open to His love and His movement and His grace.
As Pope Benedict XVI said: “Are we not perhaps all afraid in some way? If we let Christ enter fully into our lives, if we open ourselves totally to Him, are we not afraid that He might take something away from us? Are we not perhaps afraid to give up something significant, something unique, something that makes life so beautiful? No! If we let Christ into our lives, we lose nothing, nothing, absolutely nothing of what makes life free, beautiful and great. Do not be afraid of Christ! He takes nothing away, and He gives you everything.”
In other words, He is trustworthy.
Stay at the center of the wheel
My best friend Erica shared this homily with me months ago, but I’ve been thinking about the image of life as a wheel, and about staying at the center of that wheel as things around us go up and down. A beautiful image to reflect on!
See you in two weeks!
I’m headed to Japan tomorrow, and the newsletter and I will be on vacation next week! Have a blessed Ash Wednesday and start to Lent, see you soon!
Prayer intentions
For a special intention
For a friend who’s grandmother is close to passing
For safe travels this week
For a friend who recently lost her job
I was listening to Jen Fulwiler’s podcast / patreon this week and she told a story about a sweet child who asked to give her a hug. This child filled her heart when she really needed it! This child, as well as one of Jen’s own, is at St Jude’s Hospital in TN - with all that entails. The takeaway she had about this encounter was similar to yours (& God’s) about David. We have the opportunity to be excellent. Not everyone can be in the world and be excellent. That afternoon I felt encouraged to go service a few more customers, despite my yearning and car calling me towards home. This extra stop bore fruit for my business and my heart. Just be excellent! Pray for Lane Fulwiler and all who are battling cancer.