Columnists Mark my words

Join the revolution to change your world

Father Mark Goldasich is the pastor of Sacred Heart parish in Tonganoxie. He has been editor of the Leaven since 1989.

by Father Mark Goldasich

Now that we’re a few weeks into this new year, how are you doing with your resolutions? Uh, you did make some, didn’t you?

Resolutions have been foremost in my mind since reading the following story, told by John Perricone who is an author, speaker and former high school teacher:

Several years ago, he invited a monk to speak to his class. The monk didn’t say a word. He simply walked to the board and wrote: “EVERYONE WANTS TO SAVE THE WORLD, BUT NO ONE WANTS TO HELP MOM DO THE DISHES.”

Of course, everyone laughed. But the monk then went on to say these words:

“Statistically, it’s highly unlikely that any of you will ever have the opportunity to run into a burning orphanage and rescue an infant. But, in the smallest gesture of kindness — a warm smile, holding the door for the person behind you, shoveling the driveway of the elderly person next door — you have committed an act of immeasurable profundity, because to each of us, our life is our universe.”

Perricone concluded by saying, “This is my hope for you for the New Year — that by your smallest acts of kindness, you will save an other’s world.” (Story found in the Jan. 1 entry in The Christophers’ “Three Minutes a Day.”)

This story has really made me think. Sometimes, in reading the lives of saints, I lament the fact that I’ve not done any of the extraordinary tasks they did: founding schools and hospitals, preaching the Gospel in far-off places, living lives of incredible poverty alongside the poor, becoming martyrs for their Christian faith.

And maybe that’s my problem. I harbor grandiose visions of saving the world at the expense of doing what can change my immediate world in small, concrete actions. I’m humbled at the many times I’ve neglected “to help Mom with the dishes.”

I’m reminded of an old cartoon where someone says to a crowd of people, “Who wants change?” Everyone’s hand goes up. In the next panel, the speaker says, “Now, who wants to change?” There’s not a raised hand to be seen!

This, I believe, is the reason for resolutions. We all seem to want things to change, but don’t want to do the hard work in our lives that would make that possible. Someone said that we should call them “revolutions” instead of “resolutions” since, if we’re honest, they demand an uprooting of the old to make room for the new.

With that in mind, my “revolutions” this year consist of two simple words: simplicity and hope.

In pursuit of simplicity, I’m slowly but surely paring down my abundant possessions. There’s an element of stewardship in this, as I intend to make better use of the things that I already have . . . and limit severely the number of times the Amazon truck makes a stop at my home. It’s way too convenient in our First World today to accumulate more and more . . . all at the click of a “Buy Now” button.

My resolution to hope is in honor of this Jubilee Year 2025 when we’re called to be pilgrims of hope. In a world where we’re bombarded with bad news, it’s sometimes hard to notice all that’s good. At the end of each day, I’ve begun to write down just three things that brought me joy, that made me smile that day. It’s incredible how this simple exercise has refocused my perspective and lifted my mood — and inspired me to become a pilgrim of hope, to do whatever I can to bring a smile to others by performing the smallest acts of kindness.

May we all be inspired in this Jubilee Year to become committed pilgrims of hope, doing whatever we can to bring a smile to others by performing the smallest acts of kindness. This is one “revolution” I pray will engulf the entire world.

About the author

Fr. Mark Goldasich

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