Bob Nicholas.com

So my friend posted this on his Facebook status yesterday:

“I’ve heard a lot of people say “I can’t do it”. But is it “I can’t” or “I won’t”? One can be conquered. “

This struck a chord with me.  I’ve been “trying” to lose weight for a while.  I’ve been “trying” to have a better prayer life for a while.  I’ve been “trying” to do this and that for a while.

But what is “trying”?  For me it is saying I’m doing something about it, and then not really doing anything at all.  So really, I should be saying “I won’t”.

The greatest tragedy of life is not being truthful with yourself…and with God.  I’ve often told the story of my former spiritual director telling me I needed to pray, ‘Lord, show me how You see me.’  That is by far the hardest prayer I have ever made.  And it took me a few times to really mean it. 

So let me ask you this.  Is it that you “can’t” pray more, or get to Mass more, or talk about God with your spouse or friends…or is it that you “won’t”?  If you are like me, then you are tired of making excuses and saying ‘I can’t’ when you know the truth that you can, you’re just unwilling to. 

Today I started a swear jar at work.  While I don’t swear like a sailor, I do use some inappropriate words to often.  So I asked my coworkers to join me in rooting out the use of these words. 

Tomorrow I’m going to try and pray one rosary throughout the day.  And I’m going to ask my wife to hold me accountable to pray it before I go to bed, or start doing other things in the evening.

I say I don’t watch TV, but yet last night I watched TV for two hours.  Tonight, I’m going to read, or do something else, and ask my wife to do the same.

I spend too much money on lunches at work.  So I’m going to fast 1 day a week from now on to remember my responsibility to steward my finances and care for my family as God calls. 

Yesterday, in pure spite of my friends Facebook status, I came home and worked out.  Tomorrow I’ll work out again.  I’m asking my friend Wit to keep me accountable.

These are the things I’m going to do to tip the scales toward “I can”. 

So how is this Christian…other than praying more?  Well read this from Luke 1:26-38

In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, “Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you.” But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus.  He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, ¹¹ and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”  But Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?” And the angel said to her in reply, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived ¹³ a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God.” Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.

Mary says, “I can!”

“Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.”

I have long been in awe of Mary’s yes.  I’ve spoken on it.  Told others we are called to embody her response to God’s call.  Desired to respond the same.  Yet I still say “I won’t”.  My fiends, today I say “I can” with Mary in response to God’s call.  I’m not taking on foolish goals, just one simple one.  Say yes to God in my life.  It’s that simple.  He will guide me, pastor me, lead me to the places he has for me.  And He will do the same for you.

So are you in too?  Are you willing? Or “can’t you” muster the strength?  If not, that’s okay for now…but you better be praying that you gain strength because “I can’t” only suffices for a short time…then it’s time to be real with yourself before you get into trouble.

Let us pray.

Mary, we ask your intercession for us as we seek to say Yes to your Son in our lives.  Intercede for us that God the Holy Spirit would fill us with the Grace of faith, trust, and perseverance.  Hail Mary, full of Grace, the Lord is with thee.  Blessed art though among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy women Jesus.  Holy Mary mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.  Amen.

NOTE: so who was my friend on Facebook?  None other than my best man, Paul V.  You can check out his site at www.pvsfit.com.  Oh, and he doesn’t know I wrote this, nor that I took such an impact from his status.