My Dog and My God
Last weekend, I was away leading a retreat for our high school teens. Now, I have to explain, that the few days after a retreat are usually spent in a semi-conscious state. I'm sure that is not just true for me, but for all retreat participants. We are exhausted emotionally, physically, and spiritually. And, in his own way, my dog is too. He gets to spend retreats at my mom's house, with all of the crazy dogs who live there, too! But, once the first few days are over, he feels much more rested, while I'm still trying to catch up on sleep. And he gets anxious, wanting to be taken out for walks, play with things, and eat stuff. I just want to sit on my couch, eat pizza, and watch movies. Unfortunately, neither of us gets what we want!
When my dog doesn't get exercise, he gets restless, much like I do when I don't exercise my soul. Long periods of time without prayer leave me feeling restless. And much like exercise, the more I don't do it, the more I don't want to do it. It's strange how that feeds itself.
Feelings of restlessness are easy to combat, actually, though they seem hopeless at the time. If you're feeling restless, bored, anxious or frustrated, try giving yourself a little spiritual exercise. Because, like my dog, if you don't get that exercise, you could end up damaging something.
(Let's play "I Spy," to see if you can find all of the things my dog destroyed while bored. There is a sock, ribbon, a compass, a dog bone, a chew toy, a flip flop and a rag)
Bible Verse of the
Week
I was having a really hard week (it is, after all, the week after a retreat), and I was praying, but I knew that I wasn't really listening to God's answer to my question. I asked, but then I tuned Him out. Which, as we know, is never a good thing. At one point, I started complaining to God about how small my faith is. About how stubborn I am. About how little I trust. I asked Him to let me hear Him, I almost begged in fact, but I was still closed off to His answer. Afterwards (after I didn't hear Him), I was walking past my dresser, that had a Bible that I never use sitting on it. Something (cough cough God cough cough) told me to pick up the Bible and read what it said. I felt like God was putting me in my place with this verse. It still doesn't answer the question that I asked Him to answer, but it does tell me that He's listening to me. And for that, I love Him."Then Jesus said to her in reply, 'O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish'" - Matthew 15:28.
Saint Quote of the
Week:
I chose this week's Saint quote because it reminds me to be grateful for the fact that I have neither form of poverty. It reminds me that, even though I feel lonely from time to time, that I am surrounded by people who love me. And even though I don't have a ton of money, I still manage to buy food (even if it's Ramen Noodles, which is rare). Thank God that poverty has not affected my life. "Being unwanted, unloved, uncared for, forgotten by everybody, I think that is a much greater hunger, a much greater poverty than the person who has nothing to eat" - Mother Teresa
Prayer of the Week:
If you've never used a litany to pray before, it's a beautiful way to pray. I have to admit, when my boss assigned this prayer to the Core Team once a couple of years ago, I thought that it was weird and stupid. But after I did it a few times (yes, it did take me a few times), I realized how amazing Mary really is. I never knew that she was all of these things. Things I didn't even understand. And my love for Mary grew more than I can say. I encourage you to pray this every day for at least a week, to see how it transforms your life!Grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord God, that we Thy Servants may enjoy perpetual health of mind and body and by the glorious intercession of the Blessed Mary, ever Virgin, be delivered from present sorrow and unjoy enternal happiness. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen.
Approved by Pope Sixtus V in 1587
Video of the
Week:
The theme song from our retreat this past weekend. What a great song. It inspires me. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfosSggwQS0
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