During this past school year, I developed a comfortable routine that included time in the Presence of the Blessed Sacrament almost daily. I would drop off my younger child and then had 30 minutes or so before my presence was absolutely required at work. So giving to the school board what was the school board's, and giving to God what was God's, I would visit the Catholic Church that is about 90 seconds from my school. 15, 20, 30 minutes...it was time well spent.
Unfortunately, I have not been able to find time in my summer for this same level of intimacy with the Good Lord. A good bit of the time when I have stopped in for a visit, there has been the feeling that I am shirking some other important duty or meeting 'another man'. And sometimes it just seems impossible to give this time to God when there is painting and waiting and phone calls and sorting and packing to be done.
My sister-in-law's parish is having 60 hours of Eucharistic Adoration at the chapel of the nearby Catholic high school this week in honor of Pope Benedict's 60th Ordination Anniversary. She asked me to take her place on Sunday, and it was a w.o.n.d.e.r.f.u.l hour. I told my people that I was going back today, and I did. There is just something special about that time. Peace. I don't get the same results from sitting in my bedroom.
Which brings me [finally] to my point. As I drove in to the parking lot today, I was listening to KLOVE on the radio. There was an interview with one of the musicians (Matthew West??) and he was recounting a conversation he had had with Billy Graham. Mr. Graham had responded to whatever the question was with, "Your ministry, your family depends on you having time with God every day. The enemy knows this, and will do whatever he can to steal this time from you. Protect it!". And so today, God started His conversation with me before I even walked through the door of the chapel!
I hear you, Lord!
Sent from my iPad.
Don't you just love KLOVE? A few weeks ago, Lisa (morning dj) said that Billy Graham was asked if he could change one thing about his life, what would it be? His answer: He would study more and spend more time with his family, and preach less.
ReplyDeleteSometimes the Lord pushes us into hearing Him!
This is so true. I feel the same way about where my special "God" time is spent. If I pray the Rosary in my bedroom it's fine, but if I can make it down to the Church, and pray in the chapel it's so much better!
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting this ... I think I'm heading to the chapel today.
Blessings!