ragon
THE
P RTAL
March 2019
Page 5
Delaying Tactics
Snapdragon remembers childhood delaying tactics
A s a
child I had an imaginary cupboard. In it I put all those suggestions, ideas and
possibilities that I found uncomfortable. Maybe they were suggestions that frightened
me. Perhaps I thought the ideas were beyond my capabilities. Or it could be that I found the
possibilities merely uncomfortable.
These items hidden away in that
imaginary cupboard all threatened
me in one way or another. Should they
come to light, I was sure they would,
at best, embarrass me, or at worst,
cause me to be humiliated. They were
best kept hidden away in that cupboard. one day, the doors burst open and all those unpalatable
ideas, suggestions, and possibilities came tumbling out
for all to see. But: and here is the rub: it was too late.
The time had passed for them all. The damage had
been done.
People noticed that I was going to be enthusiastic to
begin with, but would nevertheless make sure what
ever it was would never happen. We could all do no better than to recite it daily, for
is not God in charge? Is His will thwarted? Is God
mocked? I think not. “Do not be afraid, for I am
with you.”
I was shown to be the frightened little boy that
I always had been. If only I had had the courage to
Oh, I would never admit that they were hidden away embrace some of them. If only I had the trust in the
in that all-important imaginary cupboard. When the good people who suggested them. If only I had faith in
suggestion was made, I would accept it with glee. Him who actually presented them, that He would see
“What a good idea!” I would exclaim. Should an idea me through.
be put to me in public, I would always respond with
enthusiasm, “That is wonderful. I wish I had thought
When it comes to the Catholic Faith, am I the same?
of it!”
Do I accept the tenets of the faith outwardly, but
inwardly have an imaginary cupboard to hide all the
When possibilities presented themselves, I would unpalatable doctrines in?
never shrink away from them when my parents or
friends were around. Rather I would, in public at least,
Many a parish, many a diocese, many an
appear to be full of anticipation for them.
organisation, many a person, is bedevilled by similar
imaginary cupboards; places to hide suggestions, ideas
In reality of course, I was petrified of them all. and possibilities that are thought to be frightening,
Suppose I could not cope? What if I failed? Were this unpalatable, or threatening.
or that to happen, I would be made to look foolish.
So outwardly I would show enthusiasm for whatever it
At the Catholic Online web site, found at www.
was that was put to me; inwardly I was going to make catholic.org/prayers/prayer, we find this act of faith.
sure it never happened.
“O my God, I firmly believe that you are one
I found many ways to do this. Perhaps we did not
God in three divine persons, Father, Son and
have the correct equipment? It could be that others
Holy Spirit.
were not ready. I may develop a cold and be unable to
participate.
“I believe that your divine Son became man
and died for our sins, and that he will come to
As I grew older there were many more ways to delay
judge the living and the dead.
and eventually stop those embarrassing, belittling
and humiliating things from happening. They were
“I believe these and all the truths which
all designed to prevent me from looking inadequate.
the holy catholic Church teaches, because in
In the end, of course, my deceptions did the exact
revealing them you can neither deceive nor be
opposite of my intentions.
deceived.”
That imaginary cupboard got ever more full, until