Driven to Distraction

I try to pray, but I find myself distracted. This used to make me throw up my hands and holler in the general direction of anyone who would listen, “Well, there you have it! I just can’t do it! I’m too distracted!” Yeah, I’m a giver-upper. It’s the easy way out. I DID try, after all, and I DID fail. And, in my defense, I tried more than once.

It’s hard to say who was holding the two-by-four that hit me across the head - it might have been God himself - but at some point, out of sheer desperation, I buckled down again. I can only blame God’s grace. I had, after all, given up.

It was - it IS - slow going. Some days, I can whip through a rosary, sit down to morning devotions, have a cup of coffee, do some meditation, AND find the energy to ward off distraction long enough to pray in the evening too. Most days, though, I find myself remembering, in the midst of little people and folding laundry and running around, that I need to pray. I will sit down, clear my head, start praying, and find distractions popping up like little weeds in the spring. They’re green and beautiful at first, but given any kind of attention, they react just like dandelions on Miracle Gro.

Sometimes, I just shake my fist and tell God it’s HIS problem. “If you want time with me, God, you’re going to have to help me with these stinkin’ distractions!” And you know what? He always does. Every single time.

The distractions aren’t a sin. Being distracted isn’t a sin. God loves us - the complete person - distractions and all! Where I find the special grace in prayer is when I pull myself away from the distractions - from the endless to-do list in my head, from the ideas that pop up and must be remembered, from the interruptions by the phone - and put myself back at Jesus’ feet. The power of prayer that has most touched me lately has been the power to overcome the distractions, even while I stand in the midst of them.

Maybe you have experienced some frustration in your prayer life because of the many distractions you have around you. It’s OK. Give them to God. What matters is the effort, the trying, the slow journey to getting better. Jesus was human too. I wonder how many times he wanted to bat at the disciples and say “JUST LEAVE ME ALONE, PEOPLE! Can’t you see I’m talking to my Father?!?!” We can take a lesson from him, though, in how he went off by himself, and how he prayed often. Punctuate your day with prayer. Work through the distractions of the world and strive to bring your soul closer to the divine.

Lent is finally here!!

He really needs to eat more fish!!

Hi all,

Lent is finally upon us. St. Joe's is bursting with lots of opportunties for spirituality, devotion, learning and for helping others. Please make sure you use your time wisely this lenten season. We of course will be meeting Sunday night in the basement for a veiwing of the Passion but there are lots of other opportunites that I thought I would share.

First of all tonight we have Ashes at 5:30 in the Church and Ashes and Mass 7:00 p.m. at the PAC. There are Lenten journals at the church and the PAC for you to use this season. Give it a try it might be an eyeopener. Don't forget the Fish Frys start this Friday, 5-8 p.m. at the PAC. I plan on being there and I'm sure Kelly will be too. Make sure you read Sarah's post about giving up or giving in. Peace as always Cynthia

Giving Up or Giving In?

Lent is upon us. On Ash Wednesday, the questions will start and my enjoyment of pepperoni pizza on Friday will cease.

It’s inevitable that someone is going to ask me what I’ve given up for Lent.

Without a doubt.

Guaranteed.

But, the thing is, Lent isn’t about giving something up. It isn’t the Catholic diet plan.

Lent is supposed to help us grow as Christians. When we give something up, it’s so that we can direct our attention back to God, so we can fast and suffer just like Jesus did. Fasting and suffering are redeeming; they can help us to focus on the cross in a way we might have been able to before. They can free up funds so that we can perform more of those corporal works of mercy - giving up my weekly McDonald’s addiction, for example, means I have about $10 more in my pocket to share with the poor. Should I decide to give up blogging during Lent (no worries there; it’s not even on my radar!), that would free up some time for me to spend in prayer or devotion.

Lent is about giving up so that we can better give back - giving up an hour for Eucharistic Adoration is a sacrifice of time and of praise.

That said, there’s something about the fasting part that helps me focus. When I’ve given up coffee, I’m aware of my misery (and if I’m not careful, so is everyone else!). A sacrifice like that makes me physically ponder Lent and just what it means. It draws me closer to the Passion in a way I feel with my body, not just something I’m trying to grasp with my head.

So as you dive into Lent, think about what you’re going to give to God. Maybe it’s your morning caffeine. Can you do it without complaining? Can you THANK God every time you feel the grouchies start? Can you find a way to turn your fast into something more, something that helps others as well?