On Saturday, June 5, 2004, we had a mini day of recollection and a Commissions Workshop. There are five Commissions in the Secular Franciscan Order: Peace and Justice, Ecology, Home, Work, and Youth and Young Adult, which are important because, while the Rule gives us the skeleton upon which to build our lives, the Commissions become the flesh and blood. They give us the focus for our ministries. We brainstormed ideas about ministries, what we’d like to see and what we’d like to do. Then we discussed what would be feasible, with the concern being that we are a small fraternity.
I’ve been thinking quite a bit about what a small fraternity can do that would bring about a change in the world. We like to think that the work that we do and the ministries in which we participate will change a life, a family, a neighborhood, and, yes, the world. However, what if the work we do only matters to those around us? Is it enough of a ministry then?
This morning, while driving to work, the line "and all for the want of a horseshoe nail" suddenly popped into my mind. I knew it was from a short poem that I had read in a children's book of poetry, but I didn't remember the rest of it. Of course, I had to look it up on the internet:
Think about it. What if we didn’t do our small ministries because we thought they were as seemingly inconsequential as a horseshoe nail? What might be lost? Another analogy is that of a line of dominos. If you knock the first one over, they all follow in turn. What happens if one domino isn't there? The pattern of the dominos falling abruptly stops. Whatever we do, no matter how small, can have far reaching consequences.
Ultimately, for the kingdom of God to be manifested on earth, we will all have to do our part…even if our role is that of a horseshoe nail.
