“Give me ten truly detached men, and I will convert the world with them.” (St. Philip Neri)
Most people think of detachment in reference to things or objects or places. A more subtle form of detachment is that of the spirit, which consists of subordinating our personal plans and desires to those of God. For example, I know a woman who offered to pick up her father-in-law from his house (over an hour away) to drive him to their house for the Father’s day celebration…her husband was extremely grateful. Or a husband who goes to the beach every year (his wife’s preference) with the family for vacations, even though he would much prefer going to the mountains. Or a wife who learned how to play golf at 40, with the goal of spending more time with her husband and 3 sons (my mom!) Or a brother who allows his little sister to watch her favorite show instead of forcing ESPN as the only option, etc… It comes down to an attitude of generosity and selflessness out of love for Christ!
