What ways do you run to implore the Lord's help when you are struggling? Do you always spend time in Adoration? Do you dive into the bible? Automatically go to Confession? Could you be better? How? And what about those times when things are good and you are joyous? Do you still give the Lord your time?
Ok, ladies. I have a confession to make.
When Jen and I were making this year's NAS topic schedule, I wasn't super pumped about this topic. Then with how things worked out with trading off topics, and I realized that I'd be hosting for this particular topic, I thought to myself: "well, I don't know what I'll say here...I haven't been in a slump/rut/funk for awhile..."
God knew better.
The past several weeks I've been a regular on the Struggle Bus. It's hard for me to pin-point specifically what is wrong. I hate this, because as a natural sanguine, extrovert, ENFP, etc. I feel the need to be constantly "on". At least, when I'm around people. But internally, I'm exhausted. What's the deal, Morgan?!
Maybe it's my perpetual singleness.
Perhaps it's a restlessness in my work and the unknown future.
Or maybe I simply need to get off my butt and be more physically active.
Or....maybe it's the lack of a spiritual rhythm in my life.
There was a time when daily mass was a given. When I'd spend at least an hour of my busy day devoted to our Lord. When HE was the center of my life.
Hm. Yep, that could be it.
A couple weeks ago, I finished Jason Evert's book on St. JPII. Wow.
Since then, I've been working my way through a couple of encyclicals: The Splendor of Truth and God is Love. Both have such genuine Truth.
And in teaching CCD on Sunday mornings, I'm learning more about salvation history than I ever did as a child.
This is all well and good...reading the Bible, lives of the saints, and the writings of our Church leaders.
BUT. Without our SOURCE AND SUMMIT at the center of my daily life, I'm empty. Lost.
Without our Lord LITERALLY within me, getting through the day is rough.
So I need to make some changes. And pray for the discipline to stick to them.
How do you get through slumps like this? Do you have any tips or tricks? I'm honestly asking.
Link up below!
--------
Next week's topic:
Prayer Altar/Corner
How do you pray at home? Do you have a special place in your house? How do you make that area special? Comfy chair? Icons? Prayer cards? What suggestions do you have to make a home altar? If you don't do this, in what ways can you begin?
11/25: Thanksgiving! :)
In what ways are we thankful?! Write about anything you want under this theme! Do you have any family traditions that help you to be mindful of the blessings in your life?
12/2: Preparing the Way! {NAS Advent post}
Happy Advent! How do you prepare your heart, home, etc. for the coming of the Lord? Are there specific recipes or traditions you partake in? Share with us how you are making way for our newborn King!
I loved Jason's book on JP2, although it was intended to be a bio of him, I found it to be a serious spiritual book! I also agree on the Daily Mass thing - didn't write about it in my post as a struggle helper, but without Mass, I always find the day to be somehow lacking without it. Also anything 'daily' is what I find to help with the stuggle - I am a keeper of routine, and find daily morning and evening prayer to be the roots that keep me grounded.
ReplyDeleteRoutine is so important. The best advice I've heard for dealing with spiritual dryness is to keep going with everything you usually do. The time to change your habits and routines is NOT when you're "just not feeling it."
DeleteOoh! If you like salvation history, you would LOVE the Bible Timeline, Jeff Cavins's series. It is the first part of The Great Adventure and comes in an 8-session version, which I did a few summers ago. It changed everything for me.
ReplyDeleteHe and Tim Gray also wrote a book that encapsulates the same topics as the Timeline. It's called Walking with God. I own that one, but I haven't read it...for two years. Hmm.