Be Our Guest / Michael O’Connell

Practice makes perfect. Or does it?

For almost 50 years as a tennis teaching professional, I would often share this statement with my students and their parents: “Practice makes …” and stop in the middle of the sentence.

One hundred percent of the time, a student or parent would finish the sentence by saying, “Perfect!” They would repeat it back to me: “Practice makes perfect!”

Most of us have heard and used this cliche.

I would always get a kick out of it when I replied, “No, it doesn’t,” and they thought something was wrong with me.

I then finished the statement as I had planned: “Practice makes permanent,” and then would explain. I saw very intense and dedicated hours of practice, but if they were practicing the wrong strokes and incorrect mechanics, they were only getting better using the wrong form.

What does this have to do with faith? I believe it has a lot to do with spiritual preparation. Many times in conversations with people—even some Catholics—I would hear statements contradictory or incorrect to what Scripture says and how a person was interpreting it.

I am certainly no Scripture scholar and the last to judge anyone, but I certainly feel compelled to respectfully say I believe that Scripture needs to be properly understood as it is reflected upon. Otherwise, like a tennis student, you may go through life practicing a wrong virtue or spreading an incorrect message.

If you look back on history, you see many holy wars that were fought because of people’s faith and beliefs. As a result, some lost their lives.

I am especially concerned with today’s youths, who may not have had the right formation in their faith journey. As they grow up, they may not be fully living the faith.

I offer the following for them and all of us: as you continue your spiritual journey, be sure you are correctly learning our beliefs and practicing what our faith teaches. If you are not certain, why not seek out a priest, spiritual director or others who have been trained and dedicate themselves to understanding Scripture? Also, pray intently for the grace to know the truth.

Let us pray: O God, grant me the grace to practice and train for the truth and follow the commandments as you have taught them, and help all of us learn how to correctly practice our faith. Amen.
 

(Michael O’Connell is a member of St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Bloomington.) †