Can you hear Him now?
“The One who saved your soul longs to remake your heart. Let's fix our eyes on Jesus. Perhaps in seeing Him, we will see what we can become!”
Max Lucado
Staying Connected.
A year ago, I found myself feeling particularly bored— I mean really, truly bored. In search of something to pass the time, I picked up my phone, clicked open Instagram, and began aimlessly scrolling through my feed. I started by reading some posts from the various Catholic pages I follow, which usually offer thoughtful insights and reflections. But then it happened, I fell down the rabbit hole! Before I knew it, I was watching an endless stream of dog and cat videos that were both adorable and utterly distracting. I even switched over to Facebook, only to be met with more mindless content; yes, more cute, but ultimately mindless videos! In total, I spent a staggering three hours in one position, scrolling without a care in the world! It's no wonder my ankles were swollen at the end of it. LOL! I digress.
What a waste! It’s truly wonderful to be connected in this digital age, but let’s be real for a moment—how many of those “friends” we have on Facebook are genuinely our friends in the true sense of the word? The reality is that the world is overflowing with distractions of all sorts. Are we truly using our time wisely and effectively? Is social media really the answer to our boredom and restlessness? It was during this contemplation that I made the conscious decision to limit my social media engagement to just 20 minutes a day. In doing so, I’ve been able to spend significantly more time connecting with the truest friend we will ever have—our faith and the divine presence in our lives. Since taking this step, I find that I dedicate much more of my time to prayer and reflection. While I absolutely enjoy the entertaining Golden Retriever and cat videos that abound online, in the grand scheme of things, they are merely distractions that can pull us away from what truly matters. Don’t get me wrong; it’s wonderful to indulge in lighthearted content occasionally, but it should not consume the major portion of our time and focus. Saying no to what leads us astray is indeed the key to nurturing a healthy and fulfilling spiritual life.
If I were to visualize my spiritual life today, I would guess I can compare it to a hurdle race, filled with various challenges and obstacles. I am aware of my end goal, which is represented by the finish line (God). The job ahead of me involves navigating and jumping over each of the hurdles that lie before me. But what exactly are these hurdles? What purpose do they serve in my journey? The hurdles symbolize life’s many distractions, the angst, and the myriad challenges of everyday existence. Some of these hurdles are manageable, and I can successfully leap over them, while others prove to be more difficult, and I struggle to overcome them. There are even those burdensome hurdles that can knock us down, leaving us feeling defeated for a moment.
You see, the key to succeeding in this race is identifying each one of those hurdles clearly. If we remain focused on the finish line, which represents our connection to God, we can find comfort in knowing that He is cheering for us every step of the way. He is calling out to us, urging us to persist and keep striving. Can you hear Him now? As we become more attuned to His presence, the hurdles, or distractions, will become easier to jump over. And if we do find ourselves knocked over because we simply cannot leap over some, we must remember that He has not deserted us at the finish line. Can you hear Him now? It is crucial to detach yourself from those things that do not serve your growth and to firmly say no to anything that leads you astray. Ultimately, your will, when united with the will of the Father, will guide you and strengthen you as you race toward victory.
What are the hurdles in your life? What can you change in your life to stay connected with God?
" Ave Maria, Totus tuus" or "Totally yours"
Keep at it! Keep praying. Love the Lord.
Peace and Grace.
