"I Sing the Mighty Power of God"

As we continue to live this week, I offer this version of "I Sing the Mighty Power of God":

 

Belated Birthday Blessings, Anthony!!!

Belated birthday greetings to nephew Anthony, brother Jim's son, who recently celebrated his birthday!!! May each day of the upcoming year be filled with the Lord's choicest blessings!!!

Belated Birthday Blessings, Jeff!!!

Belated birthday greetings to family friend Jeff Myjak, who recently celebrated his birthday!!! May each day of the upcoming year be filled with the Lord's choicest blessings!!!

Belated Birthday Blessings, Alison!!!

Belated birthday greetings to great-niece Allison Tanner, who recently celebrated her birthday!!! May each day of the upcoming year be filled with the Lord's choicest blessings!!!

Belagted Birthday Blessings, Ava!!!

Belated birthday greetings to Myrna's granddaughter Ava Geoghegan, who recently celebrated her birthday!!! May each day of the upcoming year be filled with the Lord's choicest blessings!!!

Bleated Anniversary Blessings to Mimi and Chris!!!

Belated anniversary greetings to Myrna's daughter Mimi and her husband Chris, who recently celebrated their wedding anniversary!!! May each day of the upcoming year be filled with the Lord's choicest blessings!!!

Thank You, Lord

Thank you, Lord, for the blessings You have planned for us in the month of July.

'Pray As You Can, Not As You Can't'

Some people find the idea of prayer appealing, but making time for it in their busy lives is another story. As a spiritual director, Becky Eldredge hears this often from people who feel overwhelmed with responsibilities. They say they'll devote more time to God "when life slows down . . . when I retire, when the kids are out of the house, when I'm done caregiving for this person in my family."

While these statements are legitimate and Becky sympathizes, she nevertheless encourages, "Make time for prayer now. . . . Don't wait. God is here and wants to be with us right now and will meet us right where we are. I always encourage people to be free of expectations of what prayer should look like because I had a wise priest-friend decades ago tell me, 'Becky, pray as you can, not as you can't.' Those words have helped me . . . move through life and incorporate prayer in the way that made sense for each season."

"Prayer looked different when my kids were younger," Becky continued. "My kids are older now. One's in college. I have a high schooler and a middle schooler. So, my prayer is more anchored in the morning. I can get up before them. But there were long seasons that I was trying to catch prayer during a nap time. When [my husband] Chris and I took care of my grandparents, prayer looked like sitting next to a hospital bed holding their hand, praying in a waiting room. It wasn't consistent. I'm grateful that I've had different spiritual directors throughout my life, and they've always encouraged me [to] find the way God's calling you to be together now. . . . Don't judge [your own prayer life] by somebody else you see praying. Just be with God in the way He's offering."

Becky's insights reflect St. Thérèse of Lisieux's words: "Prayer is an aspiration of the heart; it is a simple glance directed to heaven; it is a cry of gratitude and love in the midst of trial as well as joy." When we're spiritually minded, we can turn ordinary moments into opportunities for prayer.

But sometimes, we may want to engage in prayer at home, hoping to quiet our minds and spirits and take a break from the noise of the world. One option in that case can be centering prayer, also known as contemplative prayer. It involves sitting in a quiet place by yourself, focusing on a particular word (such as "Jesus" or "love"), and being open to God's presence. Chances are that numerous distracting thoughts will drift through your mind while trying to do this. That's normal and simply the way our brains work.

In their "Faith Reflections" newsletter, the St. Jude League suggests releasing these thoughts when they come and returning to your sacred centering word "as a way to refocus on clearing the way for God."

The League also offers this prayer to help you prepare: "Lord, quiet my restless mind. Still the racing thoughts, and silence the distractions. Draw me into Your presence, deep within. Let Your peace fill the empty spaces. Let Your voice calm my heart. Teach me to seek You in stillness, knowing that You are always there, guiding, comforting, loving. Amen."  No matter how we engage in prayer, God will appreciate our efforts. As Rev. John L. Dietzen once wrote, a personal relationship with God "includes sharing with Him our joys and sorrows, our hopes and disappointments, our wonders and our regrets - all of which are nothing else but prayer."

This essay is a recent "Light One Candle" column by Tony Rossi, Director of Communications, The Christophers; it is one of a series of weekly columns that deal with a variety of topics and current events.

Background information:

The Christophers

Reflection Starter from Maimonedes

"Truth does not become more true by virtue of the fact that the entire world agrees with it, nor less so even if the whole world disagrees with it." -  Maimonides

Thank You, Lord

Thank you, Lord, for the blessings You have bestowed on the United States of America in her first 250 years. May the many seeds that have been planted and nurtured bear/continue to bear much good fruit.

Elizabeth Scalia on Dreams and Encouragement

"In this season, we spend a lot of time congratulating others on their graduations, or their upcoming jobs or their new marriages. That's all lovely, but there are times when, while genuinely glad for others, we feel a bit mired in our daily muck, wondering if there is anything new and exciting in store for us, or whether the favors of the Lord have perhaps gone exhausted, our own prospects being over and done.

"Such thoughts are not unnatural or blameworthy at all, but for those of us who are not at this moment standing on the precipice of a clear new beginning, I would nevertheless like to offer an encouraging word in season (Prv 15:23), one that starts with a truth too rarely considered: We, all of us, are actually standing at new thresholds all the time if we're permitting ourselves to dream, and to believe in God's promises."

In a recent commentary, writer Elizabeth Scalia reflected on how the God-given gifts we have received are never revoked and cannot be suppressed.

To access Ms. Scalia's complete post, please visit:

The Pilot: Echoes: Elizabeth Scalia: Dream and be encouraged! Your God-given gifts are still there! (17 JUN 26)

Reflection Starter from Pope Leo XIV

"'Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens', says the Lord in the Gospel of the Day (Mt 11:25–30). Jesus takes upon himself humanity wounded by evil in order to heal and care for it." - Pope Leo XIV