Holiness in a World of “Maybe”: How To Stand Tall

Last week I was over at a hardware store – not my store – but I saw young Tommy, a fine Catholic boy from down the street, staring at two different kinds of nails on the shelf.

“Tommy,” says I, “What in tarnation are you trying to figure out?”

He looks up, all flustered. “Mr. Harper, my dad says I can fix this loose board on the porch, but… one nail is a little longer than the other. Which one is the right one? There’s not really a wrong answer, is there? They both hold things.”

Now, that right there – that’s the spirit of our age. That “not really a wrong answer” business has seeped into every corner of life, even our faith. It’s called relativism, and it’s a sly little varmint that tries to convince us that truth is like a loose board – you can hammer anything in there, and it’ll hold for a while.

But we Catholics? We know better. We’ve got the blueprints. And this guide is your toolkit to fix that wobbly faith of yours and build something that lasts for eternity.

Why Your Soul’s Foundation Can’t Be “Mostly Right”

See, the world tells you it’s all about feeling good, being accepted, and not making waves. If what you believe doesn’t hurt anyone – or maybe just hurts your feelings a little less than someone else’s belief – then it must be true for you.

This is where we have to put on our big-boy boots and remind ourselves of the wisdom St. Paul gave us: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ; for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth…” (Romans 1:16). The Gospel isn’t a suggestion. It’s the bedrock.

Think of it like this: If you’re building a house, and someone tells you to use jello for your foundation because you prefer the taste, you’d think they were plumb crazy. A solid foundation requires something that doesn’t wobble or change with the weather.

Holiness isn’t about building a flimsy shed of your own feelings. It’s about constructing a cathedral on the unshakeable rock of Christ and His Church. And in an age where everyone’s got their own “foundation recipe,” we need to know how to lay ours correctly.

The Three Tools You Need for Spiritual Construction

So, how do we build? We start with the right tools, handed down straight from God Himself.

1. The Rulebook (Holy Scripture & Tradition)

This isn’t some dusty book you read once and forget; it’s your architect’s plan. It tells you what’s square, what’s level, and where every single beam goes. When the world is screaming at you that “everyone gets to define their own family,” you don’t argue with feelings – you open the rulebook.

Try This: Pick one passage from the Gospels this week – say, the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) – and read it not as a story, but as your project briefing for the day. What is God asking you to build or tear down?

2. The Measuring Tape (Moral Law)

This tool doesn’t stretch and it doesn’t shrink. An inch is an inch. Two plus two is four. In the spiritual world, this is the Natural Law – the way God wired creation. Lying is always wrong. Stealing is always wrong. It’s not about the situation; it’s about the nature of the act itself.

A Fun List: Make a “Quick Check” list for your day:

[ ] Did I lie, even a little “white lie,” today?

[ ] Did I use someone else’s time or property without permission?

[ ] Did I give God the worship He deserves as the Creator of all things?

3. The Power Tool (The Sacraments)

You can have the best plans and the finest tape measure in the world, but if you don’t have a power source to drive the nails, your house is going nowhere. That’s what the Sacraments are.

Confession isn’t a torture chamber; it’s your spiritual hardware store where you get the real tools – Grace – to fix everything that’s broken. The Eucharist? That’s not just a symbol; it’s the power generator HIMself, giving you the strength to build each day.

Practical Steps for Everyday Saints

This isn’t theory, folks. This is how we live it.

At Home:

Create an “Altar” Corner: It doesn’t have to be fancy. A crucifix, a statue of Mary or your favorite saint, and maybe a candle. When the whole world feels upside down outside, you’ve got a little piece of heaven in your home to remind you who’s in charge.

At Work:

Be the Guy Who Keeps His Word: In a world of “I’ll get back to you,” be known as the person whose handshake is better than a contract. Your integrity is the most valuable tool you own.

Pray the “Guardian Angel Prayer” before meetings: Quick, quiet, and it reminds you that you’re not alone in that boardroom.

In the Community:

Don’t Be Afraid to Say “No”: You don’t have to join every committee or support every cause. A saintly life includes boundaries. It’s okay to say, “I’m sorry, I can’t do that, but my time is already committed,” and mean it.

A Creative Twist: The “Saintly Swap” Challenge

Let’s make this fun. Every week, pick one saint whose story you know nothing about. Then, for the next seven days, try to live like them – just a little bit.

Pick St. Thérèse of Lisieux? Be kind to someone who is hard to be kind to.

Pick St. Ignatius Loyola? Start your day with a five-minute “examen” – What did I do well for God today? Where did I mess up?

Pick St. John Vianney? Spend an extra ten minutes in Adoration, just staring at the tabernacle like he did.

This isn’t about being perfect. It’s about getting to know your teammates on the eternal winning team!

Putting It All Together: Build Your Cathedral

So let’s recap. You’re living in a world that wants you to build with jello and glue. But we have something better.

1. Get the Plans: Go to Scripture and Tradition.

2. Use the Tools: Measure your life against God’s unchanging law.

3. Plug In the Power: Live a life of grace through the Sacraments.

4. Build Every Day: Make small, consistent choices for holiness in every corner of your life.

The call to action is simple: Go home today and find one loose board in your life – maybe it’s a sin you keep committing, a prayer you keep forgetting, or a relationship that needs mending. Don’t just stare at it. Pick up your tools. Get to work.

Because as St. Josemaria Escriva said, “Holiness is not a luxury for the few… it is an obligation for all.”

Now get out there and build something beautiful. The Lord’s watching, and He’s counting on you.