St. Francis has a number of quotes misattributed to him. One such error includes: "Start by doing what's necessary; then do what's possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible."
As I researched the origin of this quote St. Francis never said, I came across these other axioms from other saints that resemble the former:
“With God’s grace, you have to tackle and carry out the impossible because anybody can do what is possible” (St. Josemaria Escriva)
“Blessed is he who loves and does not therefore desire to be loved. Blessed is he who fears and does not therefore desire to be feared. Blessed is he who serves and does not therefore desire to be served. Blessed is he who behaves well toward others and does not desire that others behave well toward him. Because these are great things, the foolish do not rise to them." (St. Giles)
While I appreciate the simplicity of the non-quote, I like the words actually spoken by these other saints even better.
Two takeaways:
- Do the next right thing. Greatness doesn't necessarily come about through grand efforts and majestic accomplishments. You climb a mountain - "to the heights" - one step at a time. Send the email. Have the conversation. Pick up the piece of trash. Visit the classroom. Stop by the lunchroom. Go to the game/event. Enforce the dress code. Start with prayer. Provide the feedback. Perform the emergency drill. Change the clocks.
- Realize that with God's grace, we can accomplish the impossible. Greatness can happen when we strive to accomplish things "far more than all we ask or imagine, by the power at work within us" (Ephesians 3:20). Bring to life the God-sized dream He has planted into your heart. Be ambitious for God, asking Him what He wants you to accomplish in this ministry at His schools. Have an apostolic spirit to build the Kingdom of God anew in your schools, our diocese, and the world. From bringing the entire school to the HS Mass and Rally, to aligning your school operations to the school's mission, beliefs, values/pillars/charisms, to revamping the service requirements, to challenging the school's outdated traditions, dream big for our great God.
Do the small things.
And, put out into the deep and traverse "verso l'alto" to accomplish amazing things.
Step by step. Leap by leap.
For the greater glory of God.
