When I transitioned from my life as a layperson into life as a new postulant, getting used to the “interruptions” in my day was a challenging adjustment at times. The bells tolled, I dropped what I was doing and went to prayer. Afterwards, I returned to my previous work, studies, or ministry, or perhaps I shifted gears and began a new task, leaving the former one unfinished. Having worked in a professional career where time and deadlines were important, being interrupted and changing tasks was not new to me. What was new was the nature and source of the interruption – slow down, become silent and listen to God.
"...learning to surrender our agenda, to open our hearts in humble awareness..."
I once heard prayer defined as a willingness to be interrupted by God. As children we are taught that praying is talking to God – and so we talk, and talk, and talk. Prayer is often seen as an active effort on our part; listening to God is thought of as passive, frustrating and slow. With time and maturity, we learn that listening is anything but passive, and that it takes active effort on our parts to be silent and pay attention to God.
The process of learning to surrender our agenda, open our hearts in humble awareness, and listen to God’s response can also be prayer. It demonstrates a desire to draw close to mystery. When this learning becomes a personal vision and attitude of heart, every moment becomes prayer – a lovingly received interruption from God.
Praying the Liturgy of the Hours and attending daily Eucharist is the center of my Benedictine life and day. They inform and direct what I do and who I am. They remind me of why I work and minister in the first place. God “interrupts” my days with more than just prayer times, though. God “interrupts” my day to speak to me through other people. When I allow myself to be “interrupted by God,” every moment of my day becomes a moment of surrender, opened heart and awe-filled listening. Cultivating such an attitude of heart fulfills the command of our Lord and of the Rule of St. Benedict to “Pray always.”
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How beautiful and true. I have found that when ‘life’ brings us to our knees, listening carefully, and fully to God/Universe speaking is our true lesson to reroute ourselves, stand back up, dust off, be forgiven, forgive….bringing us closer to God and the soft spoken communication that is Always there for us… Rather than our sometimes ‘headstrong’ path, against the grain of our true destiny, steps that we so often take. For me it feels/seems like listening closely to the wind, or ones heart beat, or watching the first green sprouts come thru the earth at spring…..all moved by God, Always, and Forever….the Grace we live with is amazing and humbling. I thank God every chance I get…thank you once again little lime tree!!!
Love,
Courtney
Thank you Sister Ann Marie for a simple and direct statement of what all of us need to remember…it was and is a blessing to me! Betse Person, I love your “taking God’s call”! You are right, being still is the hardest thing to do because all of our personal history is movement, not stillness. I too have fought with Him to listen to me (ha!) instead of me listening to Him. Truly amazing what happens when we do let go.
Love the thought of “interruptions”. Going to have my class read this. It was a good one.
You reiterated what Fr. Hugh, pastor at Our Lady of Light said this evening at Mass. He started off talking about phones and caller ID where one has the option of not answering or putting on”hold” until we’re ready to take the call. Not so with God, not so. When He calls there is no putting Him on hold. He knows how to get through to us whether we want Him to or not. What we do with His message, if we truly listen, is our choice since He so lovingly has given us our free will. But–sooner or later we will “get” His message and know in our hearts that He was right all the time. We are so blessed!
It has taken me a long time to finally “let go and let God”. The path has been difficult and sometimes painful but the blessings far outweigh anything I could have ever imagined.