“What makes situations depressing is the feeling of helplessness in front of them,” Cardinal Michael Czerny said about living out the church’s social teachings on this week’s episode of “The Spiritual Life with Fr. James Martin, S.J.” We can all relate to this predicament, that is, reading the news, learning of a great tragedy or real injustice—the kind of social problems that have roots like tentacles—and feeling completely helpless. It can be extremely tempting to bury our heads in the sand or, as I prefer, a pillow. And if we are constantly inundated with these stories, as is so often the case when scrolling social media, the problems become ever more numerous, intractable and depressing. So instead of inspiring moral valor or action, we can become either numb to or paralyzed by this distressing cavalcade of social and environmental problems.  

Yet the spiritual antidote to helplessness is not running from problems but facing them head on. Cardinal Czerny draws from the insight of Pope Francis, who used to say, “Don’t be afraid of reality,” and adds that “by sharing in the challenge, and especially by helping those who are most in need, you will, in fact, share in the resurrection.”

The problems are manifold. Certainly, we cannot take immediate action in addressing all of them from our little corner of the world. How do we begin to face reality? Cardinal Czerny’s advice is clear and pragmatic: “Keep it simple, and keep it close.” The first step is to stop talking about problems in the abstract. Instead of talking about immigration, for example, look to the experiences of real migrants, or better yet, find yourself an “angel.” Cardinal Czerny uses the term to describe people who are deeply embedded in the lives of marginalized communities and who can take us along in the work for justice. 

In other words, keep it simple by focusing on real human beings (rather than enormously complex issues) and keep it close by finding the angels in your neighborhood, town or city that can guide you in taking the next step. While much of the conversation between Father Jim and Cardinal Czerny focused on serious social issues, such as poverty and violence, HIV/AIDS in Africa and immigration, this advice to “keep it simple and keep it close” can be applied to pretty much any area of our lives. Want to get in shape? Maybe you don’t need a super restrictive diet or intense workout plan. Maybe you can start by taking a walk after meals. Feeling lonely? Reach out to one person, a good friend or someone you’d like to get to know better, and meet up, perhaps on that walk! Want to grow closer to God but struggle with prayer? Set aside 10 minutes in the morning to read Scripture and maybe even America’s daily Scripture reflections, and notice what happens over time. 

“So keep it simple, and keep it close,” says Cardinal Czerny,  “and then, God takes care of the rest.”

Maggi Van Dorn is the Senior Audio Producer for America Media.