THE SILVERSMITH COLLECTIVE
  • Home
    • About
  • Blog
  • THE COASTER

If you're too busy to pray...

10/15/2016

Comments

 
Picture
This very popular quote from St. Teresa of Calcutta usually elicits one of two responses from me. Depending on the state of my prayer life, and the inflation level of my ego, I usually react one of two ways to this gem.

PREACH!

When my prayer life is on track, this quote makes me want to raise my hands and yell "PREACH MOTHER T!"
When God and I are super tight, and my life is in balance, I LOVE this quote. I have even been known to share it with people who may need a bit of encouragement in this area. After all, I know all the good super holy quotes to help people with their floundering prayer lives... Poor things... #sarcasm
Picture

THAT'S A LITTLE HARSH!

via GIPHY

As wonderful as scenario number one seems, it's not really the case. Nine times out of ten I get a bit defensive when I read this quote. Sometimes my ego flares up and I start justifying my lack of prayer with shopping lists of things I am doing for God. How could you say that St. Teresa? Do you not know who I am? Do you not know what I am doing?
I'm helping out with this faith group, I'm a lector at mass, I'm a Eucharistic minister and I go to Mass every Sunday.
​I pray...  I'm a Knight of Columbus (even though I haven't been to a meeting in a while)... I am doing all the things!!!! How dare you question my prayerful prowess? 

Truth Time

More often than not, my reaction is inspired by a bruised ego. I get embarrassed because I know better. I do have to be honest, however: a lot of the things that I am doing have a Catholic flavor to them. Sometimes I feel like this:

via GIPHY

I have to remember, however, that all the things I do for the Church, doesn't equate to building a relationship with the person who founded it. In fact, sometimes it can detract from it. Here's an example from my life. 

Prayer = Work; The Slippery Slope

A few years back I was working in full time youth ministry for my local parish. I thought I had died and gone to heaven. I had an office in the parish. The chapel was right down the hall from me! How amazing! I could see Jesus anytime I wanted! Coming into the role, I was so filled with zeal and fire. I was going to change the world! I was going to introduce these students to Christ! I spent countless hours at the schools building relationships, in my office planning, and at the church leading youth nights. 

At the beginning, my prayer life was great. I would go into the chapel in the morning, go to morning Mass, and offer my day to God. So Holy! As the year got going, however, I got busier and busier. People's expectations of me increased. My plate got more and more full. What were the first two things to fall? My prayer life and my physical activity (Isn't it funny how the two most important things are always the first to go?). 

I ended up getting so busy that I burned out. The burn out was a result from a number of things, but my lack of prayer definitely had something to do with it. Additionally, it got to the point where I would equate prayer with my job. My job burned me out (because of my lack of balance) and made me tired. Prayer just reminded me of that. Thus, I avoided it. NOT GOOD! 


After getting things under control in my life, I was able to achieve balance. As a result, my outlook on prayer changed. It was not work anymore. It was oxygen to my soul. Things turned around, but I can't forget how I slid down that slippery slope. I was too busy to pray. Therefore, I was too busy. Plain and simple. 

Take Some Time

No matter what we do, it's easy to let life pile up and push prayer out. Whether we're working for the Church or in a normal 9 - 5 job, it is very important to take some time. When we're busy, our minds automatically think about what we can drop or cut from our schedule to lighten the load. Interestingly, our Lord offers some different advice:
​
"Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest"
- Matthew
 11: 28

​Take some time today, no matter how busy you are, and spend it with the Lord. Give your burdens to Him. He won't disappoint. If you have trouble making time, just remember these convicting words of St. Teresa of Calcutta:

"If you're too busy to pray... You're too busy"

Lance Rosen
Comments
    Follow

    Categories

    All
    Catholic Education
    Catholic Education Podcast
    Catholic Parenting
    Dating & Relationships
    Guest Articles
    Homilies
    Podcasts
    Product Reviews
    Real Life Faith
    SSC Announcements
    Videos
    World Meeting Of Families 2015
    World Youth Day 2016
    Youth Ministry

    Archives

    October 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    September 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    April 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015

    Contributors

    Subscribe Today!

    RSS Feed

    Follow
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
Photos used under Creative Commons from Rod Waddington, EssamSaad, mikecogh, Robert Cheaib - Theologhia.com, mikecogh, Robert Cheaib - Theologhia.com, Robert Cheaib - Theologhia.com, Aramisse
  • Home
    • About
  • Blog
  • THE COASTER