When we were young, we pretended to be all sorts of people, like superheroes, knights, firefighters, fairy princesses, and police officers.
Make-believe is very beneficial for children. It’s a safe way for them to practice being grown up and helps form them in virtue.
Here’s a crazy thought: Maybe playing pretend can still be useful to us grown-ups, too.
You and me, we are all called to be saints.
Now, if you’re like me, you might hear that and nod your head politely, but harbor the secret belief that you’re more of a lost cause than a heavenly hero, certainly not holy or pious enough to be anywhere near the front of the class.
Ok, fine.
Maybe we’re no more saints than we were superheroes when we were kids.
But what if we pretended to be one?
What if, no matter your station or season of life, you were always asking yourself, “How would a saint do this?”
How would a saint raise these kids and run this household?
How would a saint teach this class?
How would a saint run this business?
How would a saint lead this team?
How would a saint do this job?
And then, as silly as it might sound, pretend for the day that you are that saint, and do those things a saint would do.
It won’t magically make you a saint, but it will help you to be formed in virtue. Even if it feels weird or out of character, you will start to grow in humility, fortitude, generosity, and charity.
As an entrepreneur for nearly three decades, I’ve come to understand that alongside being a husband and father, business is the method God is using to sanctify me. In the past, I often put my vocation on a lower plane than that of a missionary or religious, but I now see that the struggles and challenges unique to running a business are just as effective for my sanctification as any other calling God could have given me.
God has raised up saints in every age. Not one looks like another. They have been men, women, children, priests, parents, nuns, monks, doctors, lawyers, writers, carpenters, metalworkers, soldiers, and yes, business owners.
So during my prayer time, I’ve been asking, “How would a great saint run my business?”
I am surprised by how easily answers bubble up. There are moments of affirmation and consolation that, in many areas, I’m on the right track. But there are also stark challenges pointing to opportunities for improvement.
Rather than beating myself up for my shortcomings or abandoning the call to become a saint, I’m pretending to be the saint that would do a better job of running my business than I do.
Maybe this is one way we can follow the advice of St. Paul, who said, “Brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” (Phil 4:8)
One might counter with Paul’s admonition to put away childish things, thinking it silly to suggest that adults play pretend.
I agree that it might feel weird.
But aren’t we already pretending we have our stuff together and know what we’re doing anyway?
If we pretend we’re someone better than we are, perhaps someday it will come true.
Earlier in Philippians, Paul says, “Join with others in being imitators of me, brothers and sisters, and observe those who thus conduct themselves according to the model you have in us.” (Phil 3:17)
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