You Never Know Who's Watching

You never know who’s watching.

At morning Mass Father asked if we felt we were doing our part to lead others to Christ.   I never felt the call to be a missionary in a foreign land or start a new religious order.  My life is simple, working, living and caring for my family, and just trying to manage life’s everyday ups and downs.  Father’s point was that even as most of us perform these mundane activities, we still can show others our love of Christ and perhaps directing them towards God. 

I started attending morning Mass at our village church and began to recognize some of the regulars.  A woman came in most mornings, usually accompanied by her husband.  I learned she was undergoing cancer treatment.  Her husband sat close to her, sometimes with his arm around her waist, affectionate and protective.  He would help with the kneeler or give her his hand when they stood up to receive the Eucharist, just small interactions with his wife.  I never spoke to either of them, but I saw beautiful mutual gestures of love and care of a husband and wife. 

Recently while I was walking out of church after morning Mass, a young man quietly said “Hi”.  A while back I retired as one of the part-time sacristans opening church for Saturday morning Mass.  Not only was this young man kind enough to remember me in that role, but he also thanked me for my past service.  I didn’t know the man, but I had (thankfully) made a good impression on him.

We are all called to be Saints, but I’m thinking I could be a saint with a small “s”, doing those little things (think St. Therese), a smile to a stranger, holding open a door for someone with a bundle of things, even letting someone ease their car into traffic.  With my small actions, I might be giving someone a spiritual pat on the back or even a little nugget of peace.  The wonderful thing is God has a way of taking my tiny acorn of action and growing it into his great oak of comfort and love.   

You just never know who is watching you and what kind of impression you might be having on that person.  I don’t mean that we should be continually monitoring our actions and their impact on others - that could become a vain and exhausting way to live, but for myself I will try to be more respectful at church in my actions and dress.  I will try to acknowledge others with a smile or hello and just be a kinder person, God willing.