Regular PFO-er, Tim, sent me a post from Campfire Cowboy Ministries. In it, the author suggests “five ways to get your focus back on God without feeling like you’re attending seminary.” They all seem good to me so I’ve taken the points and “de-cowboyed” them to suit our rather more urban/urbane audience.
1. Make some good habits
The author suggests saying “a little prayer when you drink that first cup of coffee in the morning.” Great idea. I also try to write down at least once a day something I’m grateful for and I strive, when driving, to say a prayer every time I see a church steeple or some other “spiritual trigger.”
2. Look at something in your everyday life in a new way
As St. Ignatius told us, God is to be found in everyone and in everything. One fine way to proceed is to take time to examine something prosaic and ordinary in order to discover what’s extraordinary and sacred about it.
3. Try not to complain
I was at the foot surgeon the other day, feeling more than a little sorry for myself because I have some arthritis and will need an operation. In the waiting room, I encountered an older woman in leg braces with severely distorted feet. She was absolutely cheerful and it was clear that the staff in the office adored her. Her great attitude put my minor problem in better perspective.
4. Smile more often
I think it was Charlie Chaplin who wrote the lyrics, “Smile, though your heart is aching, Smile, even though it’s breaking…” There’s something to this. I’m not suggesting we deny or suppress our true feelings, but when we can get out of ourselves enough to be kind and gentle with others, we’re doing a real mitzvah.
5. Just relax
The author of the original post writes, “that doesn’t mean you get a full-time recliner job. It means to go out and work and do your best and let [Jesus] worry about the rest.” Amen. But I also think we do need to get enough rest and relaxation to be able to “rest into God.” If we’re overwrought and frantic, it’s almost impossible to connect with God.
{ 27 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks Paul and Tim. Good stuff. #2 and #4 are good ones for me to focus on for today.
Bob
Bob,
Always our pleasure!
Paul
Tim, thank you and Paul, thank you for sharing this. How wonderful, and most needed on this Monday… by me, anyway!
Fran,
Yes, Mondays can be tough, can’t they?
Paul
All very sensible recommendations but soooooooooo hard to do at times – especially on a Monday.
Have a good week everyone.
Simon,
Everything easy is really hard, isn’t it?
Paul
#2 sounds like a good daily assignment, at least consciously for a week to practice.
Denise,
Amen.
Paul
Tim thanks for recommending this post.
Paul I appreciate how you “de-cowboyed” these suggestions.
Very helpful and concrete practises I can focus more on.
Carol,
Thank you. I was a little anxious about the “de-cowboying” but no one seems to have objected.
Paul
Yippee ki-yay…have a great week!
Tim,
Keep right on down the trail, pardner!
Paul
I love # 5
It reminds me of a story I once heard about John XXIII during Vatican Council II. Supposedly as he was headed to bed each night he would end his prayer by saying ” It is your church, Lord”
It is amazing how wonderful life can be when we rest certain in that knowledge. But it is definately something I need to work on as the FB ( First Born) Hyper-responsible, control freak type that I am.
Yeah Maura, being the FB is a nightmare isn’t it? If only the younger siblings would realise the weight of responsibility we carry they would do what they were told so much more readily
Simon
I don’t think God himself could bring them to that understanding of my superior understanding and wisdom. ( lol)
My siblings all just laugh at me when I worry about the details.
I guess God gave them all to me to keep my head from getting too big… and I do love each and everyone of them for it.
Maura,
That is one of my very favorite quotes!
As the youngest in my family, I can testify that it isn’t only FBs who have an over developed sense of responsibility. I am cursed with it. My eldest sibling didn’t have it at all!
Interesting, I was my mother 3rd child with the responsibility of the (FB)
Thought FB meant facebook at first. ☺☺
Maura,
As the “forgotten middle child,” I have nothing to offer to this discussion!
Paul
Sorry to hear you have arthritis and will need an operation… Hang in there!
Claire,
As I said, my pain is a minor one. It has gotten much better since I gave up the treadmill in favor the stationary bike.
Paul
Thank you to both of you! Needed to remember #5!!
Annette,
We ALL need to remember #5!
Paul
Nice.
But why did I not get this on email last night?
Hi Jaymee, it looks like there was a stray piece of code that delayed the sending. Look to receive e-mails as usual again tomorrow morning.
Jaymee,
Those darned stay pieces of code. They trip me up all the time!
Paul
Thanks, I got the mail already, it came with the great orchestra.