Living the Better Way
It’s easy to feel disillusioned when the structures we trust seem to contradict their own core values. Many of us have experienced this tension—wanting to stay rooted in a tradition while grappling with aspects that feel outdated, rigid, or misaligned with its original spirit. This struggle isn’t new. Even figures like Francis of Assisi faced it, as he stood before the institutional church, hand raised not in condemnation but in blessing, embodying an alternative way.
Francis didn’t waste his energy dismantling the system. Instead, he lived a better vision, one that reflected the essence of Christ’s teachings: humility, brotherhood, and solidarity with the marginalized. His life reminds us that the best response to imperfection is not despair or anger but faithful action rooted in love.
You, too, can reclaim the heart of what you believe. Go back to the source. Ask yourself: What is the original call I’m meant to embody? Then, live it with authenticity and courage. Be a quiet revolution of goodness in your own context. The practice of the better is within your reach.
Going Deeper
What does it mean to live authentically in the face of imperfection? Many of us wrestle with this, especially when systems we value fall short of their ideals. The answer lies not in abandoning those systems but in rediscovering their roots and embodying their original vision.
Francis of Assisi modeled this beautifully. Faced with the church’s inconsistencies, he didn’t accuse or rebel. Instead, he returned to Christ’s teachings and lived them with radical simplicity. He chose humility over power, brotherhood over hierarchy, and compassion over control. His life wasn’t perfect, but it was transformative.
So, what about you? Living authentically doesn’t mean fixing everything around you. It means anchoring yourself in the values you hold most dear and practicing them in your daily life. Small acts of love, integrity, and faithfulness create ripples of renewal.
Today, ask yourself: What am I called to live out more fully? Then take one courageous step toward embodying it. The world doesn’t need perfection; it needs your sincere effort to practice the better.