Deacon Dave and Layperson Lisa discuss the progress of their new building's scaffolding and draw parallels between building scaffolding and growing spiritually (0:00-0:35). They highlight that both require hard work, multiple components, and community (0:41-3:08).
Here are the key takeaways from their discussion:
- Spiritual Growth as Scaffolding (0:49-1:21): Just as scaffolding needs many pieces (metal, wood) to build higher, spiritual life requires various elements like virtues, different forms of prayer (Mass, silence, Divine Mercy Chaplet, rosaries), and continuous effort to "go higher."
- Hard Work in Virtue (1:54-2:34): They emphasize that spiritual growth is hard work. Using St. Francis de Sales as an example, who took 12 years to overcome anger and cultivate meekness, they illustrate that God provides opportunities for growth, which often involve significant effort.
- Importance of Community (2:34-3:08): The hosts stress that community is crucial for progress. They note that the scaffolding work went much faster when more people were helping, likening it to spiritual life where community support can accelerate growth and prevent isolation.
- Faith and Trust in God (5:11-6:26): They discuss how growing in virtue and holiness strengthens faith and dependency on God, which helps in calming life's storms. Lisa mentions St. Thérèse and her confidence in God through faith, hope, and love, emphasizing that God wants us to rise from mistakes with His help rather than self-condemn.
- Avoiding Self-Criticism (6:28-7:15): They advise against beating oneself up over mistakes, identifying it as a form of pride that shifts focus away from God. Instead, they encourage learning from errors and allowing God to use those experiences for positive change.
