About this time in the semester I felt up to my ears. Some of my assignments were done; many were in various stages of completion. There were social things to attend to and I had a part-time job too.
This feeling of being in the middle of things is probably a fairly accurate portrayal of how your parents have been living most of their lives and how you will probably live a good deal of your life.
So it might be good to know that there are places to rest along the way. In healthy lives, I think faith can and should challenge us, but there is also a place for it to be a place of rest.
 |
| Thomas Merton, famous monk & writer on prayer |
Have you ever visited a church when there is no service? I was lucky at U of T, that there was both St. Basil's Church and Newman Centre. I would often go into the church or chapel for a quiet visit with Our Lord. With the busy brain I had, I tried to say as little as possible, just letting God know I was listening. At first it was 20 minutes or so and then 30 minutes. For at least part of my undergrad, this was an anchor in my day. If you don't have that chance starting with a quiet 5 minutes and then maybe 10 could be something you find space for at home.
Of course, we are never perfectly still nor free of thoughts, but slowing down and even just repeating the name of Jesus can be a wonderful thing. Fewer energy drinks, more sleep and a little contemplative stillness could be just the thing to cope with the multiple competitors for your attention these days!
