How to manage Adversity
A Reflection by Fred Schaeffer, OFS
Today is a perfect day to do some writing because my WiFi is down.
So let’s title this “How to manage Adversity.” I feel slightly lost but I don’t lose WiFi often, and I am sure it will be fixed. So far it has been out since 10:30 this morning. Mmmm… we seem to be back up (1:35 PM).
All is well again.
Adversity comes in different forms. Frustration caused by all too frequent interruptions, often caused by my own weaknesses and stupidity. In my exalted age I get very forgetful. Find a need to look for things, mostly in the form of notes I have misplaced. Often I write down a Scripture citation and then when I remember I did, I cannot find the note. Some people write notes in a diary, I’ve never learned to do that.
Some office types used to use a blackberry, but that’s a thing of the past.
Other frustrations are caused by temptation, indirectly by the devil. Overeating comes to mind.
God loves us deeply and intimately. The type of relationship as between a parent and child. You can talk to God in the same way. It brings us closer to Him. Talk to Him softly, and with determination, expressing thoughts of admiration, not in an emotional way, but with meaning. Never tell God anything that you do not mean. When we love God enough, we will pay more attention to pleasing Him more and more often, by curtailing sin. Sin is something we (humans) do purposely (if it is not done with full knowledge and will, than it isn't sin). I know that it is sinful to purposely overeat (because it tastes so good) - that's a weakness that must be remedied. Would St. Francis stuff himself with food, even if he had plenty. No, because St. Francis was known for his fasting all the time. So next time we feel compelled to bite into that big creamy piece of chocolate cake to excess, maybe the thought would arise that we are not pleasing God. We are just pleasing ourselves. Big sins are bad, of course, but little sins can lead to big sins, so let's not make a habit of it! Please God in all things, all the time!
John of the Cross wrote:
- In order to arrive at having pleasure in everything, desire to have pleasure in nothing.
- In order to arrive at possessing everything, desire to possess nothing.
In order to arrive at possessing everything, desire to possess nothing. Whenever we assert ourselves by erroneously assuming that we have all the answers, we'll quickly find out that we really don't have any answers at all. Humility is such a tough subject to write about you first need to have it to tell others about it, and the minute you assume that you do, you find out you haven't got it at all. Humility is one of the distinctive of Christian values: by being humble, we acknowledge our place in God’s kingdom, that we are very small indeed.
Our Secular Franciscan Rule is a beautiful way of life, but unless we practice self-denial, that way of life is but an illusion. We also need to have humility. I see humility as the strength to recognize that the "l" in me is less important than the "You" in me. Without Jesus, I am nothing.
It is Lent, and a good time to tackle adversity with patience and humility. People asked me if I made a Lenten resolution. That’s like a New Year’s resolution. I almost never make them because I always break them. I let the problem come to me, and then apply humility, viewing things in the way of the Gospel; and the matter that comes up is easily solved.
Deep within his conscience man discovers a law which he has not laid upon himself but which he must obey. Its voice, ever calling him to love and to do what is good and to avoid evil, sounds in his heart at the right moment. For man has in his heart a law inscribed by God. His conscience is man's most secret core and his sanctuary. There he is alone with God whose voice echoes in his depths." (Art. 1776, CCC)
Let us often be alone with God and listen to His voice as He speaks to us in our hearts!
Peace and Good,
Fred S. Schaeffer, OFS
March 2, 2026