Lack of Spiritual Growth: Whose Fault is It?

So what is the damaging attitude reflected in the survey responses I received that we all fall into?

The question I asked on the survey was, "What do you think are your greatest personal obstacles in growing in your faith or finding happiness and contentment in life?" Even though I specifically asked for personal obstacles, here are some of the responses I received:

• Wishing that society could be better in backing me up in what my husband and I teach our children.
• The Vatican backtracking on Vatican II
• My constance frustration with the country, government and the direction we are heading. I wish to retire
• Lack of pastoral leadership
• I love the tridentine latin Mass and there is only one offered in Pittsburgh. I wish that it was celebrated in a parish closer to home. That Mass is very personal in its silence which is contemplative.
• Those who only give an hour on Sunday and then complain about it, too! They have no idea that it should be a way of life that takes them back to their Father and not an obligation!!!!!!
• Society- it's lack of morality. Lack of support from others and from priests. Political correctness.
• Secular everything is so big, bold, loud! It is hard to find people that tune out a majority or secular information and live as Christians.
• Other Catholics who give in to society to be politically correct and compromise their Catholic beliefs.

Do you see the pattern? We so easily fall into it, don't we? When we run up against our own failure to thrive, we naturally seek out explanations outside of ourselves. Hey - I do it too! It's just so much easier than looking inside.

But this attitude is so dangerous!

I'm not saying that many of these responses don't reflect legitimate concerns.

But if we continue looking outside of ourselves for the problem, we'll never find the answer to our lack of spiritual growth. Psychologists call our tendency to blame outside forces on our troubles having an "external locus of control." It is an indicator of a lowered ability to deal with stress and trials in our lives.

And this is good news!

Because it means that the real solution is within our control.

So, if you're joining Pope Benedict XVI in his call to make 2012 a Year of Faith, then it's time to stop blaming our lack of spiritual growth on things that are outside of our control. It's time to start doing our part in our relationship with God so that we can be ready to receive his outpouring of grace.