Anselm, who lived during the 11th century, feels familiar to me and, I suspect, to many of us. He had a dream as a teenager, and when someone said “No–your dad wouldn’t like it,” Anselm just gave up, gave in, and did something else where he wouldn’t have to deal with family hassle and, besides, who was he to have dreams anyhow. Now, unlike most of us, Anselm wanted to be a monk more than anything. His father, who was not a Christian and who was wealthy and preparing a dynasty for Anselm certainly regarded the whole matter as unacceptable, period. A monk? A MONK!!?!

Anselm’s mother, who would have supported him–it was she who had encouraged him into church-y activities as a youngster–was unfortunately dead. So Anselm took the path of least resistance and decided to become….oh, a doctor, a lawyer, something rich and respectable. Butler writes of Anselm, chidingly but insightfully:

Neglecting, during the course of his studies to cultivate the divine seed in his heart, he lost this inclination, and, his mother being dead, he fell into tepidity; and, without being sensible of the fatal tendency of vanity and pleasure, began to walk in the broad way of the world: so dangerous a thing it is to neglect the inspirations of grace!

Anselm found his way back (otherwise, he’d not be on the Saints’ Calendar). But I believe it truly never ends right for me (or anyone else, maybe?) to ignore those promptings within us to pursue a dream, those times when something holy is stirred within us (call it what you will) that feels right, that excites us, that opens the lid on our creativity, that makes us want and hope. Following those “inspirations of grace” can lead to resistance from those closest to us (see Anselm), can bring a host of troubles upon us (see almost any saint), but provides us a peace that is–against all odds–unshakable (you know, a peace that “passeth understanding”).

So what have been and are your “inspirations of grace”?