Giant Steps

Have you ever been hesitant about a decision, even if you knew it was the right thing to do? Maybe it involved a significant change or shift. Perhaps resistance stemmed from not knowing all the details. Maybe you shared your hesitancy with a trusted confidant. Maybe that friend gently encouraged you to just take “baby steps.”

This reminds me of the children’s game, “Mother May I?”. Players stand on a line and must politely request to move toward the “Mother” with a type and number of steps.

“Mother, may I please take 5 baby steps?”

She might answer, “Yes, you may.”

She might also modify the type (big, tiny, cheetah, flamingo-sized...you get the idea), or adjust the number of steps, or just refuse you flatly. Her choice! The first child to reach the Mother wins and then gets a turn at making every other child squirm with requests. You know, like real moms do.

I’ve had this real-life experience lots of times before when I baby-stepped my way forward, sometimes honestly even dragging my baby-stepping feet. I’ve even done this with my faith life. Take a little snippet of something here, dabble in a little something there… you know, “grow in holiness” one dirty diaper at a time (sometimes stinky, but necessary).

Baby steps are cautious, calculated, and contemplated. Baby steps are careful.

But this week in my Magnificat was a very surprising comment written by Blessed Clelia Merloni. She said, “Always try to be good and generous and to walk with giant steps along the way of holiness to which you have been called.”

Giant steps!

Can you picture that? Straight and focused line of sight. Legs fully stretched, arms extended and swung high, fists clenched and determined. No hesitation! Full speed ahead!

THAT’S how we are supposed to be walking a way of holiness.

Dear friend, no baby steps for you! Accept the invitation, wholeheartedly.

Heavenly Father, you are my end and I want to be with you.

Mother may I?

Yes, you may.