September 8, 2019

The relatively calm of summer has passed. I hope you had a chance to linger over some meals outside, savor fresh fruit, exercise, read a worthwhile book and pray quietly. But how do you save some of that glow as you face the onslaught of fall activities? The best of the saints has recommended to us... balance. Work diligently yet not confusing lengthy hours for productivity. Maybe, you can schedule yourself with breaks in between. Offer a brief time of prayer in the morning asking for the Holy Spirit's guidance. Pause at night when the lights are low and thank Jesus, no matter how the day went. The consumerism of American culture pushes us to overdo everything. Christian spiritual writers remind us that equilibrium flows from moderation. St Benedict modeled his monasteries after ORA et LABORA. Pray and work, both. He also encouraged them to read, seek out silence and enjoy a little wine. Jesus told us, I came that you might have life and have it to the fullest. (John10:10)