New Year, new calendar to fill. I imagine we
share a similar story as the days in 2018 begin to unfold. Just a few days into
the year and already my calendar rushes me ahead to the coming months as I fill
the dates for future events.
We just finished what sometimes feels like a
rush through Advent and into the Christmas season. The speed of life can leave
us breathless. As a remedy, I find silence and solitude essential. This can
take the form of a mini retreat or even just a few short moments alone without
any distractions, without music, television, or any other noise. Setting aside
such time is most helpful for prayer. Without it, how can we make sure the
rhythm of our lives is in tune with God’s will for us?
A dear friend has been inviting me to learn
more about contemplative prayer, which the St. Teresa of Avila said, “means
taking time frequently to be alone with him who we know loves us.” (Catechism
of the Catholic Church, 2709.)
I confess I struggle with staying still, but
I think contemplative prayer may help me find a balance to the sometimes crazy
tempo in my life.
I have also come to appreciate the simple
pleasures of the ordinary – the art of lingering, of drinking a cup of green
jasmine tea, of reading a few pages from a book, or even preparing a meal or
taking a short walk. Always I emerge
refreshed and ready to tackle the next challenge.
If we are constantly in motion, running
through our to-do list, even adding to it before we have a chance to complete
the list, if we are incessantly caught up in all the chatter of the world, if
our mind has lost some focus, if we start to lose our creative spark, it may be
time to retreat. Sometimes we need a “Do Not Disturb” sign to create some space
to rest and recharge.
Winter, with the darker nights and cold
chills that cue nature to rest before a spring rebirth, reminds us it is
healthy to take a break. What joy, though, knowing dormant periods are
opportunities for regrowth, for renewal.
Silence and solitude give us space to think,
to hear our own voice. The world grows loud with others’ ideas and opinions.
Finding time to process and form our own ideas takes time. Social media, which
helps keep us connected to our ever-widening community and provides us with
some valuable communications tools and countless idea resources, grows
overzealous for our time. There is simply too much to take in as we scroll
through hundreds and thousands of posts daily.
It is healthy to step away from all the noise
in the world; healthy to rest and recharge. Just as we sometimes have to turn
off and restart our computers, we have to refresh ourselves. When was the last
time you took a nap? How did you feel afterwards? I used to take naps on Sunday
afternoons. It’s been awhile, but I remember how refreshing they felt.
The gift to myself this January and in this
New Year – some silence and solitude, some time for contemplative prayer. Even
if it’s just for a few short moments interspersed amidst all the rush and
chatter, I am going to make use of my virtual “Do Not Disturb” sign. I am
especially going to make sure my calendar includes scheduled time for prayer
before the Blessed Sacrament.
As noted in the Catechism of the Catholic Church,
“One does not undertake contemplative prayer only when one has the time: one
makes time for the Lord, with the firm determination not to give up, no matter
what trials and dryness one may encounter. One cannot always meditate, but one
can always enter into inner prayer, independently of the conditions of health,
work, or emotional state. The heart is the place of this quest and encounter,
in poverty and in faith.” (CC 2710)
(Originally
published in January 2018 edition of The Valley Catholic newspaper)
