Let Go of the Distractions in Your Life
It is in the stillness of our hearts and minds that we hear God. Such stillness is difficult to experience in our fast-paced world where distractions are abundant and often overwhelming, constantly pulling us in every direction, bombarding us with noise, creating disorder, and consuming our attention. These distractions can cloud our minds and hearts, making it difficult to connect with God's presence. Letting go of these distractions is not just about removing noise from our lives; it's about creating sacred time and space where we can truly surrender and discern the promptings and guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Relationships take time to deepen and grow. Begin with conducting an honest assessment of your relationship with God:
How important for you is maintaining a loving relationship with God?
When is the last time you read the Bible, the Word of God?
When is the last time you spent dedicated time in prayer alone with God?
When is the last time you expressed gratitude to God or others?
When is the last time you acknowleged, confessed, and repented of your sins to God and asked for God's mercy and forgiveness?
When is the last time you attended Mass or a Church service?
When is the last time you gathered with others to pray, discuss your faith, or learn more about God's teachings and ways?
When is the last time you read or listened to a book on spirituality that spoke to your heart or challenged your mind?
When is the last time you reflected on the mystery of God's creation?
When is the last time you acted selflessly to help another person in need?
Now consider what distracts you from spending meaningful time to grow in loving relationships with God, others, yourself, and material Creation:
How much time do you waste on things that don’t really matter?
How much time do you waste doing things that add no meaningful value to your life or the lives of others?
How much time do you waste in habitual and mindless texting, engaging in meaningless conversations, reading uninspiring novels or other books, searching the internet, looking at social media, or watching TV programs?
Letting go of life's distractions is akin to clearing a cluttered room. When you remove the unnecessary, you can begin to clearly see and make room for what truly matters. In this sacred time and space, you open yourself to allow God’s presence and grace to fill your heart and mind. Trusting in God, you surrender to the Holy Spirit to guide you along the Way lived and modeled by Jesus Christ. It is in this trusting and surrendering that you can hear Jesus' voice, calling you forth towards living a life abundant in love, truth, meaning, happiness, goodness, beauty, joy, and peace.