I am not one of those people who have to be texting or talking on the phone every two or three minutes. No, I am OK with a quiet moment. But, there are times when a routine, becomes, well a routine. For example, I take our dog for a fairly long walk each day (Cuddles is shown in the photo). It helps the both of us stay slim and trim (hardly, but it helps some). But, there are times when looking at the little stinker sniffing at the grass can get weary. Other times, I may find myself feeling weary is when I am in a long line someplace or when I am sitting waiting for someone "staring at the four walls."
Prayer
My dad used to spend hours walking around Hyde Park on his police beat. He had such a gift of gab that he would often strike up a conversation with people around him--he was great with strangers. But, he did have his introspective moments and I can remember him encouraging us to pray. He often carried a Rosary with him. But he also encouraged prayer for those around you. You pass by a cemetery, "say a Hail Mary for the dead." You hear an ambulance, "say a prayer for the injured." You see someone poor or suffering,"say a prayer for them." In this way, he was never very far away from God and always encouraging us. No doubt his mother and father encouraged him and their parents encouraged them.
I've tried to follow my dad's advice. Prayer is something that gets easier as you get older--it seems that you just need so much more. If you are like me, you feel that "the Good Lord" has your number. If for a moment, you ever start to think too highly of yourself and say, less highly of others, something happens to knock you down a few pegs. Some would call that superstition, I call it fact.
When you really think about it, your challenges in life are probably no greater than most folks. At least that's the way it works with me. Most of us would rather have the problems that we know than change places with others and take on theirs. But at the same time, I often feel a little desperate in my own life. Like Saint Patrick, I'd like to ask God to surround me from all sides, to protect me and my family. "Christ behind me, Christ before me, Christ beside me..."
Holy Cards
I found a very nice way to help me feel more connected to the Man upstairs. I've gotten into the habit of having a few holy cards in my coat pocket. In those moments where I need to connect at any part of the day, I take out a card and say the prayer on it. Every so often I go to the Catholic book store and pick up a new card and switch them around. They laminate these now, so you can keep them in your pocket without ruining them. I've got a Saint Brigid, a Saint Patrick and an Angelus card and a few cards I got from new priests that memorialize their ordinations. The cards are like a text message from God. Beep-beep, God's calling. Pull out the card and pray.
I read the Saint Brigid one most often these days. "...May the mantle of your peace cover those who are troubled and anxious, and may peace be firmly rooted in our hearts and in our world..."
Prayer
My dad used to spend hours walking around Hyde Park on his police beat. He had such a gift of gab that he would often strike up a conversation with people around him--he was great with strangers. But, he did have his introspective moments and I can remember him encouraging us to pray. He often carried a Rosary with him. But he also encouraged prayer for those around you. You pass by a cemetery, "say a Hail Mary for the dead." You hear an ambulance, "say a prayer for the injured." You see someone poor or suffering,"say a prayer for them." In this way, he was never very far away from God and always encouraging us. No doubt his mother and father encouraged him and their parents encouraged them.
I've tried to follow my dad's advice. Prayer is something that gets easier as you get older--it seems that you just need so much more. If you are like me, you feel that "the Good Lord" has your number. If for a moment, you ever start to think too highly of yourself and say, less highly of others, something happens to knock you down a few pegs. Some would call that superstition, I call it fact.
When you really think about it, your challenges in life are probably no greater than most folks. At least that's the way it works with me. Most of us would rather have the problems that we know than change places with others and take on theirs. But at the same time, I often feel a little desperate in my own life. Like Saint Patrick, I'd like to ask God to surround me from all sides, to protect me and my family. "Christ behind me, Christ before me, Christ beside me..."
Holy Cards
I found a very nice way to help me feel more connected to the Man upstairs. I've gotten into the habit of having a few holy cards in my coat pocket. In those moments where I need to connect at any part of the day, I take out a card and say the prayer on it. Every so often I go to the Catholic book store and pick up a new card and switch them around. They laminate these now, so you can keep them in your pocket without ruining them. I've got a Saint Brigid, a Saint Patrick and an Angelus card and a few cards I got from new priests that memorialize their ordinations. The cards are like a text message from God. Beep-beep, God's calling. Pull out the card and pray.
I read the Saint Brigid one most often these days. "...May the mantle of your peace cover those who are troubled and anxious, and may peace be firmly rooted in our hearts and in our world..."
