True Grit

Embracing the perspiration principle

Hebrews 10:32-39 

Remember the days past when, after you had been enlightened, you endured a great contest of suffering. At times you were publicly exposed to abuse and affliction; at other times you associated yourselves with those so treated. You even joined in the sufferings of those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, knowing that you had a better and lasting possession. Therefore, do not throw away your confidence; it will have great recompense. You need endurance to do the will of God and receive what he has promised.

          Thomas Alva Edison is one of the great American inventors, who you’ll remember invented the light bulb. He once famously said, “Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration.” He went on to explain what that meant, saying, “Accordingly, a ‘genius’ is often merely a talented person who has done all of his or her homework.” No one would dispute that Thomas Edison was a genius, but few would believe that being a genius involves the ninety-nine percent perspiration of doing your homework. That seems to mundane and so “un-genius like!” Maybe that’s one reason there are so few geniuses: who wants to work that hard?

          A little closer to home, all Fort Smithians should be familiar with the story called True Grit, a novel about that ninety-nine percent perspiration. The story is about a 14 year old girl named Mattie Ross, who wants justice done for her father’s murder by Tom Chaney. She enlists the services of a U.S. Marshal named Rooster Cogburn, who she believes possess “true grit.” But by the end of the story, we see it was really Mattie who had the tenacity, perseverance and pugnacity to finally bring Tom Chaney to justice. Mattie Ross was happy to do her homework; she wasn’t afraid of “the perspiration principle.”

          In today’s first reading, the author of the Letter to the Hebrews also encourages the early Christians to have true grit; indeed, it may be one of the most critical qualities of being a true Christian. He writes: “Remember the days past when, after you had been enlightened, you endured a great contest of suffering.” A little later, he continues: “You need endurance to do the will of God and receive what he has promised.” In other words, you could almost describe Christianity in the same terms that Edison used for “genius. We could say, “Christianity is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration.” Christianity is not a cake-walk; it demands us to develop the virtues of Mattie Ross: tenacity, perseverance, pugnacity. It is only for those who possess true grit.

          My friends, it’s very easy to apply this “perspiration principle” to virtually every area of worth-while human endeavor. For instance, don’t you need true grit to be married for very long? Ask anyone who has been married for more than 7 years, and they’ll quickly confirm: love is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration! Ask anyone who’s obtained a profession – CPA, medical doctor, attorney, professor, etc. – and they’ll tell you their success was due to one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration. When I was first ordained, the Catholic newspaper interviewed me and asked me what my goal was as a priest. I replied, “I just hope to be a faithful priest.” I figured that shouldn’t be too hard. I didn’t know it at the time but such fidelity would mean a lot more perspiration than inspiration - homework and hardwork! Sometimes, doesn’t it take enormous endurance just to get out of bed and face another day? With all due respect to Thomas Edison, it’s not just geniuses who live the perspiration principle; we all must.

          On February 12 Fort Smith will host a marathon called “True Grit,” and it is fittingly named because it is a very hard and hilly course. I like to think of it as a marathon in honor of Mattie Ross and all who embrace endurance every day, who happily do their homework, and live the perspiration principle.

         Praised be Jesus Christ!