Moving forward, inch by inch

The inchworm is a very interesting critter because it has four prehensile legs up front and four in the back. It moves by grabbing things up front and then bringing up the back legs to secure itself.

If the front legs do not grab onto anything, the inchworm cannot go forward: It dies. If there are no sturdy legs in the back from which the front legs can move out, the insect can't go forward: It dies. Both trust and solidity--dialogue--at each end of the insect are needed for it to go forth and grow.

The "frontline kingdom Catholics" and the "traditionalist communio Catholics" in the church need each other. The inchworm does not fly, nor can it jump in leaps and bounds. It just keeps on moving bit by bit and, as its name indicates, inch by inch.

COPYRIGHT 2007 National Catholic Reporter
COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning