Taking the Time to Be Renewed

That time I hiked Croagh Patrick in Ireland, looked down upon all the beauty below and had a pretty good idea why St. Patrick decided to spend 40 days in prayer and fasting here. 😍 

Don’t get me wrong. It is cold and windy and the conditions on top of this mountain were quite extreme — but Patrick knew the value of sacrifice, of mortification, of taking time away from the world around him so he could be with God — and God alone.

Patrick loved the pagan world around him, and wanted to bring the Light of Christ to them — only he was well aware of all of his shortcomings, selfishness and the fear that would hold him back. 

But he didn’t give up.  Nope.  He dug in, he fought, he looked to God to make him new.  He prayed and sacrificed and he waited.

And then he walked back down that mountain and did the good that was before him.  And so should we.

But we can’t forget that we can’t give what we don’t have.  We need prayer!🙏🏼. We need to sacrifice, so that we can kill the things (kill ’em dead, people) in our hearts that are holding us back from loving with the heart of Christ.

We need to connect with our Savior every day, and we need to ask for more of the Holy Spirit in our lives, and we need to believe that if we keep trying our lousy best to say “yes” that He will give us everything that we need.

Patrick walked down that mountain and he knew he couldn’t do the work God had for him on his own.

He looked for people who would support him in his mission. They were there, and I’m sure they were waiting for him, too.

Because no matter how much we want to change the world, to make it a better place, we need other people to support us in our mission.

There is strength in numbers.

We need each other — as flawed and imperfect as we all are — we will love more, accomplish more, “be more” with people by our side.

The sooner we realize we can’t do it alone, the better. 💕🙌🏻🕊 

I’m taking off this weekend with my oldest daughter. We’re going on a little college road trip.

I’m also deciding to use it as an opportunity to find more time for prayer, more opportunities to connect with people who have similar missions to my own, and a chance to be renewed.

Here’s to hoping you find those moments in your own life. To get away. To be renewed.

As Lent is coming up, it’s not too soon to make plans for your own “getaway”.

I can full-heartedly recommend the weekend silent retreats put on by the priests and religious of Miles Christi.

They are based on the Spiritual Excercies of St. Ignatius of Loyola. They can be life-changing. Check them out here.

That’s about it. Have a beautiful weekend.

Sharing over at Kelly’shttps://thisaintthelyceum.org