Margaret Steinhage Fenelon. The other morning, I had the rare opportunity to be early for daily Mass. No small feat for me, as those who know me well will testify. But I digress… As I knelt there, working myself into “Mass mode” and trying to stop lamenting the half-drunk cup of coffee I left on my kitchen counter, I spied a senior couple entering the church.
Nice couple, I thought to myself, It’s so sweet to see them coming to Mass together.
With the woman of the couple in the lead they made their way from the entryway down the aisle. She chose a pew a few rows from the front, entered, and moved down about a third of the way. Her husband entered the pew behind her.
“Go further,” he said a bit gruffly as he nudged her shoulder with the back of his hand.
“I don’t want to,” she shot back as she stared straight ahead and stood her ground.
Oh, boy. What’s gonna happen next? I asked myself.
The husband then retreated slightly and sat down in the same pew but a few feet away from his wife.
After just a second or two, she sighed and moved further down the pew. Immediately her husband scooted up next to her. It was almost a wiggle of joy. They knelt down together, side by side and waited for Mass to start.
Who is he to boss his wife around like that?
My initial reaction was somewhat uncharitable toward the husband. Who is he to boss his wife around like that? That’s not very chivalrous. And why did she just take it from him like that? I wouldn’t have moved for that old buzzard. I humpfed.
As Mass progressed, I watched the couple. They seemed just as much in love as when they’d first arrived. The wife didn’t seem bothered by the husband’s behavior, so why should I? My perception of this couple took on a new aspect, and my respect for the wife grew. Rather than looking at her as a silly door mat, I saw her as a very wise, prudent wife who knows when to give in when the issue isn’t really that important after all. What harm did it do her to go further? It was such a small gesture and yet it brought such great joy to her husband, and by default, to her, and ultimately to God.
Go further moments
I’ll bet we have frequent “go further” moments in our lives. How many times does someone ask something of us that we don’t really want to do? What’s our spontaneous reaction? Mine is usually like the initial response of the wife at Mass. “I don’t want to.” Sometimes I turn around and do it anyway and sometimes I remain stuck in my stubbornness.
I’m afraid I’m often a far cry from true emulation of our Father and Founder. There are more times in his life that he chose to “go further” than I could ever tell in one magazine article. I think the most widely known story is the one about the Dachau guard who ordered Father Kentenich to polish his bicycle. Father did, but with the instruction to the guard that he did it because he wanted to not because he was ordered to. Imagine the effect that must have had on the guard!
Accept O Lord…
The prayer from Heavenwards, “Accept, O Lord, My Entire Freedom” comes to my mind. This is the shorter version of “Accept, O Lord” and was written by Father Kentenich in Koblenz in 1941. It goes like this:
If Our Lord possessed my entire freedom, I could be more like Father Kentenich and freely polish that bicycle. I could be more like the wife at Mass, graciously honoring another’s request. I could joyfully submit to God’s wish and will through my biological family, my Schoenstatt Family, my friends, my coworkers, even through people I don’t know. Not that I want to be a push over and bend for reasons that aren’t justified, but that I’m willing to move down the pew when there’s nothing stopping me but my own stubbornness. If I work really hard at opening my heart to Our Lord’s grace, love, and fruitfulness, I’ll be able to “go further” whenever I’m asked.
The above item is a fine example of this gals writings to be found in her recent Book _"When’s God Going to Show Up".
She seems to understand how our daily lives indicate to each of us some insight as to how the plans of an almighty God of Love shows up in our lives if we but "open the door" of intuitive love of a merciful Creator. She reflects on where "of the moment" in the day,affected her personhood/ personality/ personal response connected to scriptural references of Christian understanding, where emotions and thoughts reflect in actions chosen.