How often do we look back on our day and barely remember what happened that morning. Little wonder that we have trouble finding time to pray. If we are serious about growing in prayer, then we need to look at this goal from all sides. Do we really want to pray, or are we just saying it? Is there something besides the lack of time that is blocking us? Are we willing to make it a priority and thus move something else to another time, or deleting it entirely from our day? How much news do we need to watch on TV? How much time do we spend with the newspaper? A busy life often means that we spend too much of it looking for things we have misplaced. Do we need to narrow our involvements so that we can keep track of things: "Orderliness leads to Godliness" is an old adage that takes on fresh meaning as we get older. The answers to these questions might be the key to finding that elusive prayer time.
Another approach is to take whatever happens...those spontaneous interruptions or unplanned conversations, and use them as a "prompt" for a quick prayer: "Lord, this was not on my agenda, but thanks...it was good to do this, nevertheless." We can go through our day with an ongoing conversation with God just about the things that happen in the course of it.
The Cure of Ars spent up to 18 hours a day hearing confessions, but was often seen just sitting in his church. When asked what he did during that time, he answered: "I just sit here looking at Him and He looks at me." That's called "Keeping it simple"! The key is not to clutter up our minds with excuses or self-condemnations, but to trustingly hand over our day, with its good and bad moments, with its moments of prayer and its lack of them...talking to God about it, for he sees us, knows our thoughts and efforts, and like the parent watching a toddler attempting to walk and falling time and time again, God does not grow angry, but encourages and prods till we can finally "walk and run."
Bro. Rene
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment