“I have a
problem with Curious George,” a friend announced to me at a party. “I’m not sure about reading those books to my
children.” Christa is the mother of three
young boys. Her comment surprised
me. My children had loved the popular
book series.
problem with Curious George,” a friend announced to me at a party. “I’m not sure about reading those books to my
children.” Christa is the mother of three
young boys. Her comment surprised
me. My children had loved the popular
book series.
The little
monkey known as Curious George is the beloved character of the series. His
owner, the man with the yellow hat, gives instruction to George in every book.
And every time, the monkey’s curiosity gets the better of him causing catastrophes.
But by the end, the problem somehow ends
up turning out well for a happy ending.
monkey known as Curious George is the beloved character of the series. His
owner, the man with the yellow hat, gives instruction to George in every book.
And every time, the monkey’s curiosity gets the better of him causing catastrophes.
But by the end, the problem somehow ends
up turning out well for a happy ending.
“What don’t
you like about Curious George?” I asked Christa.
you like about Curious George?” I asked Christa.
“He’s such a
bad little monkey,” she said. “But when
everything turns out, he’s seen as a hero.” She had a good point. Her observation immediately reminded me of a
lesson from The Diary of Sister Faustina Kowalska
that explained why ill-gotten happy endings have no merit.
bad little monkey,” she said. “But when
everything turns out, he’s seen as a hero.” She had a good point. Her observation immediately reminded me of a
lesson from The Diary of Sister Faustina Kowalska
that explained why ill-gotten happy endings have no merit.
St.
Faustina
Faustina
On February 22, 1931, Our Lord Jesus Christbegan appearing to St. Faustina, a simple nun in Poland, bringing with him a message
of mercy for all mankind.
During one of the visions with Jesus, St. Faustina brought up a priest
who was being obedient to God’s wishes, but his attempts were not accomplishing
his goal. “Why are you letting him fail?”
she asked.
Jesus explained
that failure in man’s eyes is not always failure in God’s eyes. “Write that by day and by night My gaze is
fixed upon him, and I permit these adversities in order to increase his
merit. I do not reward for good results
but for the patience and hardship undergone for My sake.” (86).
that failure in man’s eyes is not always failure in God’s eyes. “Write that by day and by night My gaze is
fixed upon him, and I permit these adversities in order to increase his
merit. I do not reward for good results
but for the patience and hardship undergone for My sake.” (86).
In the
Curious George books, all’s well that ends
well, is the theme. But as revealed
by Jesus to St. Faustina, the true lesson is that all is well when it is done well regardless of the ending. Jesus does not ask for a successful ending,
but for the desire to do the will of God. The final results of our efforts are up to
him.
Curious George books, all’s well that ends
well, is the theme. But as revealed
by Jesus to St. Faustina, the true lesson is that all is well when it is done well regardless of the ending. Jesus does not ask for a successful ending,
but for the desire to do the will of God. The final results of our efforts are up to
him.
A
Street Ministry
Street Ministry
This lesson
was driven home to me several years ago by, ironically, a nun named Sr.
Faustine from the Community of St.
John in New Jersey. During a talk she gave, she explained her prison ministry of counseling and supporting inmates. But it left her wanting
to do more. Gang members that did
business on the streets of her neighborhood were ending up in prison. One night, Sr. Faustine left her convent to
walk the streets. Approaching a
gathering of young men, she asked, “How can I help you?” They were taken aback by the diminutive nun
from France wearing a gray habit.
was driven home to me several years ago by, ironically, a nun named Sr.
Faustine from the Community of St.
John in New Jersey. During a talk she gave, she explained her prison ministry of counseling and supporting inmates. But it left her wanting
to do more. Gang members that did
business on the streets of her neighborhood were ending up in prison. One night, Sr. Faustine left her convent to
walk the streets. Approaching a
gathering of young men, she asked, “How can I help you?” They were taken aback by the diminutive nun
from France wearing a gray habit.
 |
| Sisters from Community of St. John |
The men
looked at one another and than back at her. “What do you mean?” Sr. Faustine explained her prison ministry and
expressed dismay that many of them were going to end up in prison. She wanted to know what she could do to help
them so that they would not end up there. Sr. Faustine spoke to them of Jesus, his mercy
and love, and his desire that they not hurt others or themselves. Then she returned to her convent for the
evening. Later that night, one of the
young men showed up outside the convent and called to her from a window.
looked at one another and than back at her. “What do you mean?” Sr. Faustine explained her prison ministry and
expressed dismay that many of them were going to end up in prison. She wanted to know what she could do to help
them so that they would not end up there. Sr. Faustine spoke to them of Jesus, his mercy
and love, and his desire that they not hurt others or themselves. Then she returned to her convent for the
evening. Later that night, one of the
young men showed up outside the convent and called to her from a window.
“What do you
want?” Sr. Faustine asked, a bit alarmed, wondering what she had started.
want?” Sr. Faustine asked, a bit alarmed, wondering what she had started.
“I want to
hear more,” he said.
hear more,” he said.
And thus
began her friendship with the leader of a dangerous gang. During her talk, Sr. Faustine shared
conversations she had with this totally uncatechized man and the slow process
of teaching him the values behind God’s laws.
Just as a lump of clay does not become a magnificent sculpture
overnight, Sr. Faustine explained that a conversion is often a gradual process in
which knowledge and grace move a soul closer to Christ. She explained that she had to meet her gang
leader friend where he was at in order to lead him closer to Christ.
began her friendship with the leader of a dangerous gang. During her talk, Sr. Faustine shared
conversations she had with this totally uncatechized man and the slow process
of teaching him the values behind God’s laws.
Just as a lump of clay does not become a magnificent sculpture
overnight, Sr. Faustine explained that a conversion is often a gradual process in
which knowledge and grace move a soul closer to Christ. She explained that she had to meet her gang
leader friend where he was at in order to lead him closer to Christ.
After the
talk, I asked Sr. Faustine if she was ever frustrated trying to get through to
people who were so far from the truth. “”No, not at all,” she answered. “I don’t
have to convince anyone. My job is just
to say, it’s God’s job to do.” Sr.
Faustine’s explanation reflected the message Jesus had given to Saint Faustina.
She told me that she concerned herself with the task
God had given her because the effort is ours and the result is God’s.
talk, I asked Sr. Faustine if she was ever frustrated trying to get through to
people who were so far from the truth. “”No, not at all,” she answered. “I don’t
have to convince anyone. My job is just
to say, it’s God’s job to do.” Sr.
Faustine’s explanation reflected the message Jesus had given to Saint Faustina.
She told me that she concerned herself with the task
God had given her because the effort is ours and the result is God’s.
Where is
Curious George in all of this? If George
was a boy instead of a monkey, good endings would not erase bad behavior. The wrongdoing remains regardless of how
it turns out in the end. In other words, we own our behavior, be it good or bad.
Curious George in all of this? If George
was a boy instead of a monkey, good endings would not erase bad behavior. The wrongdoing remains regardless of how
it turns out in the end. In other words, we own our behavior, be it good or bad.
But let’s forget
about George for a minute. What about the man in the yellow hat who hasn’t
figured out that you can’t trust a monkey to behave when left alone? There’s a lesson in what happens when you
don’t learn from past mistakes. Hmm,
maybe “St Thomas Aquinas versus the Man in the Yellow Hat” will be next.
about George for a minute. What about the man in the yellow hat who hasn’t
figured out that you can’t trust a monkey to behave when left alone? There’s a lesson in what happens when you
don’t learn from past mistakes. Hmm,
maybe “St Thomas Aquinas versus the Man in the Yellow Hat” will be next.
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For more inspiration, check out Big Hearted: Inspiring Stories From Everyday Families uplifting stories on love and life. Children’s books, Dear God, I Don’t Get It and Dear God, You Can’t Be Serious are fiction that present faith through fun and adventuresome stories. Follow Patti at Twitter and like her Facebook pages at Dear God Books, Big Hearted Families
