Day Twenty-Six

Day Twenty–Six // March 18 // Approachable

“For prayer is nothing else than being on terms of friendship with God.” – St. Teresa of Avila –

What a privilege is ours that God is approachable. We pray not to a distant Creator, quaking with fear that we might do something wrong. Instead, we pray to a God who loves us more than we can fathom, One who invites us to call Him Father. The very proof of God’s approachability was Jesus. The Gospel of John teaches us: “And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).

And if we want to be the feet of Jesus, bringing the Good News to those who need to hear, then we need to learn to be approachable, too. We need to be people

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with “yes faces” who invite people into our lives. We need to ask if the love of Christ is shining through us. Here are some ways to consider: • Smile • Be interested in others • Have open, engaged demeanor • Laugh at ourselves • Be vulnerable • Radiate energy • Show our liking for another person One of the great examples of approachability was our 34th President, Dwight D. Eisenhower. He was Chief of Staff to General George C. Marshall at the beginning of World War II. He was known for his friendly demeanor, treating people with respect and kindness. In fact, he engendered such trust that it helped him rise through the ranks to become the commanding general of the American forces in England. He had the perfect temperament to work with strong personalities like Winston Churchill and Charles de Gaulle. He was such an outstanding leader and diplomat that he was chosen to lead the Allied Forces on D-Day.

Whenever associates described Eisenhower, there was one word that almost all of them, superiors or subordinates, used. It was trust. People trusted him. They liked him. They respected him for his values. British Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery, who had a prickly personality, didn’t think much of Eisenhower as a soldier, but he appreciated other attributes. “His real

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strength lies in his human qualities,” Montgomery said. “He has the power of drawing the hearts of men toward him as a magnet attracts the bit of metal. He merely has to smile at you, and you trust him at once.”

Who knows how God will use us to open the door of faith for others? We simply need to be open, available, and most of all, approachable.