Thursday, June 24

Now the boy Samuel continued to grow both in stature and in favor with the Lord and with the people.
—1 Samuel 2:26

As long as we are living beings, we are growing beings. When we stop growing we are like a tire with a slow leak—life slips from us bit by bit. The question is, “How are we growing?” We may find ourselves giving time to growing in our professional prowess, or to the development of a new hobby or the learning of a new skill. These can offer us stimulation and a sense that we are developing and becoming all that we are meant to be. 

As a result of our growth, we may thrive in our profession or find new excitement in life because of this new hobby or skill. It could be that our desire is for inward growth. We may go to a therapist, or learn to lower our stress level through meditation, or read self-help books, or join a support group. These, too, strengthen our self-understanding and fill out our humanity.

Even so, years can go by without our ever considering how we might grow in stature and favor with the Holy One. Yet, it is this growth that has the capacity to make the other growth in our lives truly meaningful. The way we grow in stature and favor with the Holy One and with other people is not by the "doing of things" but by the "doing of love." 

If we will take the time to cultivate and nurture our love for God, our love for ourselves, and our love for others, we will begin to see that the "doing of love" has made it possible for the light of God to shine through us like the warm sun on a cool morning.

O God, let my heart yearn to follow the path of love as if it were the only path of life.

These Signposts originally appeared on explorefaith in 2003.