Many of us walk without the need to specifically think about each step we take. The mind is on classes, on the apostolate, on the calendar, on WhatsApp, on Outlook or Instagram, and even so, with the mind elsewhere, the feet maintain a steady rhythm in walking. What is a step in the middle of a walk? It is just a note in the middle of a symphony, nothing more than a letter in a long dictionary.

But what is simple for the quadriceps and calves is sometimes a whole feat for the muscles of the soul. A step further in the life of prayer, in the relationship with Christ, in the life of grace, can sometimes be a task that takes days or even months. It is a field where more than forcing muscles, it is necessary to open oneself to the coaching of the Holy Spirit.

Therefore, the constitutions of the Legion of Christ state in number 13, that the legionaries,

Be docile to your inspirations to walk faithfully along the path of God’s will.

Taking the first step in religious life is an art, but taking the last is a gift. At the beginning, strength that responds to the Father’s invitation prevails, but along the way, mastery lies in passing the command to the Holy Spirit. As the classic image says: with oars, we will go far, but with sails, it will be faster and less tiring.

This involves the simplicity of docility, with the humility to recognize that we do not know everything. How sweet is the walk of one guided by another, since they are free from the pressure of success at all costs, and also have the freedom to stop and reorient within the route.

Let us take one more step at each moment, hand in hand with the one who inspired history. May the Holy Spirit blow our navigation, fill the sails of our apostolic dynamism, and make our boat glide along the path of prayer.

By José Pablo Poblete, LC