The Question

How, in the course of your life, might have God used you to make the world a better place? 

My first reaction to this question is this:

I feel a bit embarrassed to say that I actually did something so wonderful that I made the world a better place.   Am I really that important that God would choose to use me to make the world a better place? 

Isn’t that a bit conceited of me? 

Maybe it means God might have used me, if only I responded to the call.  Did I answer or did I ignore the request? 

Oftentimes, sadly, I probably ignored the opportunity placed at my doorstep. 

What made me be hesitant to respond to God’s requests? 

Laziness, indecision, selfishness or the overriding fear that seems to have influenced so much of my life.

A lot of things that I might think I’ve done to make the world a better place, are things that are probably categorized under things that “ go against Roman Catholic Church teachings “.

Therein lies the dilemma for me, i.e., a person so thoroughly ingrained with church teachings, that I was awarded the Religion medal at 8th grade graduation ( much to my surprise and embarrassment - truthfully what 13 year old wants to be known as “Miss Goody Two Shoes”? ). The reality was I repeated back almost verbatim everything I was told and every assigned reading I was given.  I equated adherence to religious teachings as a way to avoid the fires of hell for all eternity.  

Early on in my Catholic School journey, I remember the “good” Sister asking us - her fifth grade students-to fold our hands across our chests at night before going to sleep. “ Close your eyes and pretend that you are lying dead in your coffin. This will keep you from sinning, “ she told us. Well I’m not so sure about that, but it certainly did scare the Hell out of me!