Pixabay (2017), CC0 Public Domain[/caption]
The saints are gentle, pious, contemplative.
And then there's me.
I talk too much, I make jokes when maybe I shouldn’t, and sometimes I take up more space in a room than a lady should. These don’t feel like saintly traits to me.
Then I met St. Philip Neri. His feast day is May 26, and I hope you will like him as much as I do.
By Sailko [CC BY 3.0], from Wikimedia Commons[/caption]Philip devoted his life to God through prayer and service, but he had fun doing it! He loved music, gathering people together for discussions and prayer, and word on the street is that he had a wicked sense of humor.
What do you do when you feel like God has given you a personality or gifts that don’t necessarily look “holy?” How do you channel that energy and zeal into something for Him and not just for you?
Well, take a cue from Philip. His warm, likable personality attracted people to him and then he led them to Jesus and to service to the needy. His customary line was, “Well, brothers, when shall we begin to do good?” People liked Philip. They could see and feel his joy. It wasn’t about pointing at people and telling them what they were doing wrong; Philip encouraged and engaged, and (this part is important!) he dedicated time to personal, quiet prayer.
Don’t underestimate the power of personality. The gift of gab and a sense of humor might be exactly how God wants to move through you. Maybe start with a conversation with St. Philip Neri. He’ll probably have a lot to say!
Copyright 2018 Abby Watts
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