Robert Mixa – Word on Fire Blog –
The crew led by Jordan represented basketball perfection. Growing up near Chicago, practically every boy idolized Jordan. Pickup basketball games were partially attempts at imitating his playing style, never missing a chance to stick out the tongue and try to fly in the air. But beyond basketball, Jordan inspired us to strive for greatness with the belief that if we put in the effort, we could succeed. While Michael Jordan is a very flawed character, there are some spiritual lessons we can draw from his absolute commitment to basketball perfection.
After a religious conversion, many people enthusiastically strive for holiness without mastering the spiritual basics. The idea of becoming a saint overnight is unrealistic. Be patient and take the time to master the fundamentals as listed in the spiritual and corporal works of mercy. If you’re like me and you have a hard time praying the entire Rosary, follow the advice a priest gave me of praying a decade a day and building from there. Not having the basics down likely leads to giving up the pursuit of holiness altogether, causing disaster for the spiritual life. Start simple, and build from there.
Unlike Michael, most of us want to play nice, and we settle. While Jordan’s competitiveness was sometimes unhealthy, he forced the Bulls to be all they could be. Competition is a good thing because it compels people to do their best. Most parishes have an “I’m okay, you’re okay” mentality, which is fine to a point—everyone wants to be liked—but few parishes form living saints. If we’re all called to enter through the narrow gate, then we should expect much from ourselves and from others. We should fight the good fight with real commitment, encouraging others to do likewise.