In the last column I wrote about perceptions, and more specifically, about how people have different perceptions when they hear the word stewardship. This disparity of views is not something that has just come to light, but has become a focus of mine as I attempt to help others understand this stewardship message, the call to discipleship that we have all received through our baptism. Over the past few months, I have tried to focus on this message more acutely as I have prepared for the stewardship class that I am presently teaching.

The structure of the class has been to discuss some of the characteristics of a Christian steward. In the first class we discussed prayer, trust and gratitude. In the next class we reflected on humility, patience, mercy, and perseverance.

Highlighting these characteristics has allowed us to examine how Jesus lived his life here on Earth when he took on a human nature. Each of these characteristics was present in His life, and that, essentially, is what we are all called to do in our own lives, to try to model Jesus’ behavior in our daily lives.

Are we capable of filling those shoes, living our lives as Jesus did? I believe that we are capable of following Jesus’ example, if we make the effort and ask that God helps us in the process. Developing a committed prayer life is a necessary part of the stewardship journey, for if we are open to listening to what God is telling us and then responding to His words, we can avoid some of the temptations and troubles that today’s society presents.

You’ve all seen the shirts, bracelets, and other things with the letters "W W J D" on them. This short message, "What Would Jesus Do?" is intended to remind us to think before we act in a situation, to ask ourselves how Jesus would have responded. Oftentimes, however, even with these reminders hanging around our necks or on our wrist or on our shirt, we fail to model His behavior. We know that because of our human nature we will sometimes fall or fail to act like Jesus, but we must not give up, not turn away, but rather ask God for forgiveness and the strength to grow in our ability to emulate Jesus’ example.

Each day when we pray the Our Father, do we stop to reflect on the words we are praying, or does the prayer become a prayer of words instead of a prayer of commitment? …Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us… is our prayer to be forgiven for those times when we have faltered in our relationships with others and is our example of mercy in setting aside our grievances against others when they have hurt or offended us.

Another symbol that is present every day in our lives is the inscription on all money "In God we Trust," but what does this really mean? Perhaps, based on the views of many in government today, this is just a slogan and doesn’t really mean what it says. But for us as baptized Christians, when we talk about trust we are called to believe that God knows what is right for us, and that we must resign ourselves to God’s will, not our own. Gratitude is a response of the heart, realizing that others want to do something for us because they love us, and gratefully accepting this sharing of one’s gifts with us. This realization allows us to share with others unconditionally as God has done with us.