This post was originally written in a couple months ago, but I never took the time to edit my random thoughts into a somewhat cohesive piece of writing. Since we've now entered the season of Lent, I figured it would be fitting to spend some more time meditating on the inspirations God left me with that one Tuesday in January:
What does it mean to adore something? We hear teenage girls tell their best friend that they adore their new Coach purse, a man tell his girlfriend that he adores her, and new parents talk about their adorable new baby, but what does it really mean to adore something...or better yet, someone?
Consult a dictionary and you'll find that to adore means to love, to admire, and to worship. Now don't get me wrong, I love my husband very much, but I certainly don't worship him. So if my husband isn't worthy of adoration, then who is? Such a person must not only be loving, selfless, and powerful, but He must also be God. And only God. For who else but He, is worthy of our worship?
In January, for the first time in a couple of months, Joe and I went to adoration (click here to learn more about what the practice of adoration is if you're unfamiliar with the Catholic tradition or check out the video below of Matt Maher singing during adoration with Pope Francis at last year's World Youth Day). We used to have an adoration hour at St. Patrick's, but since we moved out of Portland (and therefore 30 minutes away from the adoration chapel at St. Patrick's) we haven't been able to keep up our weekly visits before the Eucharist. Tonight I realized that adoration is kind of like eating Oreos: you don't really miss them while they're out of sight, but once you're back in their presence, you can't get enough.
What does it mean to adore something? We hear teenage girls tell their best friend that they adore their new Coach purse, a man tell his girlfriend that he adores her, and new parents talk about their adorable new baby, but what does it really mean to adore something...or better yet, someone?
Consult a dictionary and you'll find that to adore means to love, to admire, and to worship. Now don't get me wrong, I love my husband very much, but I certainly don't worship him. So if my husband isn't worthy of adoration, then who is? Such a person must not only be loving, selfless, and powerful, but He must also be God. And only God. For who else but He, is worthy of our worship?
In January, for the first time in a couple of months, Joe and I went to adoration (click here to learn more about what the practice of adoration is if you're unfamiliar with the Catholic tradition or check out the video below of Matt Maher singing during adoration with Pope Francis at last year's World Youth Day). We used to have an adoration hour at St. Patrick's, but since we moved out of Portland (and therefore 30 minutes away from the adoration chapel at St. Patrick's) we haven't been able to keep up our weekly visits before the Eucharist. Tonight I realized that adoration is kind of like eating Oreos: you don't really miss them while they're out of sight, but once you're back in their presence, you can't get enough.
There is something so peaceful and so relaxing about entering deeply into prayer through adoration. There was a small group of musicians playing Matt Maher's meditation music and other great, prayerful songs, which provided the perfect background for slipping into that heart-to-heart prayer with Christ. While I experienced many great moments in prayer that night, I want to share with you just one that has really stuck with me even after exiting the church and that is this: All that I have is Yours. It's a simple phrase from one of the songs we sang, but a powerful one nonetheless. All that I have is Yours.
It's easy to get caught up with the materialism of the world, after all, we're constantly surrounded by advertisements promising us happiness from the latest product. I usually consider myself a lover of simplicity, but when my project manager offered me a free iPad to use on our project, I brought that sucker home the next day and started wondering how I ever lived without it. Joe and I are reviewing our budget as we prepare for the arrival of the baby, but when I think about the possibility of selling my car to help eliminate a monthly payment, I brake out into a sweat and start imagining a painful death as I get rid of my old "baby" to prepare for the arrival of my actual child. Why is it that I want to hold onto the things that only give me pleasure and convenience, but struggle to put more of an effort into the things that bring me true happiness and fulfillment?
In adoration, when we sang over and over again about how all that I have belongs to God, it really hit me that all the treasures I am storing up (my car, my clothes, the money in my bank account, etc) don't actually belong to me. Each and every item that I have in my possession is a gift from God and is His to take from me according to His will. This includes the baby growing in my womb (which I was so beautifully reminded of when Joe leaned over during adoration and placed his hand on my expanding belly). This child belongs to God. He came from God and eventually he will return to God. My job on this Earth is simply to be the keeper of this child until God calls him as He sees fit. The mother who understood this concept the best is the Mary, the mother of God. Her job was to care for Jesus as he grew into an adult and then to give him back to God when the time was right. Such a job requires total self sacrifice and surrender to God's will...something I need to work on.
In adoration tonight, as I gazed upon my Lord, I realized that I need to give control of my life and my possessions completely to Him. He has never abandoned me. He has always provided for me. His love will never fail.
It's easy to get caught up with the materialism of the world, after all, we're constantly surrounded by advertisements promising us happiness from the latest product. I usually consider myself a lover of simplicity, but when my project manager offered me a free iPad to use on our project, I brought that sucker home the next day and started wondering how I ever lived without it. Joe and I are reviewing our budget as we prepare for the arrival of the baby, but when I think about the possibility of selling my car to help eliminate a monthly payment, I brake out into a sweat and start imagining a painful death as I get rid of my old "baby" to prepare for the arrival of my actual child. Why is it that I want to hold onto the things that only give me pleasure and convenience, but struggle to put more of an effort into the things that bring me true happiness and fulfillment?
In adoration, when we sang over and over again about how all that I have belongs to God, it really hit me that all the treasures I am storing up (my car, my clothes, the money in my bank account, etc) don't actually belong to me. Each and every item that I have in my possession is a gift from God and is His to take from me according to His will. This includes the baby growing in my womb (which I was so beautifully reminded of when Joe leaned over during adoration and placed his hand on my expanding belly). This child belongs to God. He came from God and eventually he will return to God. My job on this Earth is simply to be the keeper of this child until God calls him as He sees fit. The mother who understood this concept the best is the Mary, the mother of God. Her job was to care for Jesus as he grew into an adult and then to give him back to God when the time was right. Such a job requires total self sacrifice and surrender to God's will...something I need to work on.
In adoration tonight, as I gazed upon my Lord, I realized that I need to give control of my life and my possessions completely to Him. He has never abandoned me. He has always provided for me. His love will never fail.
That is why I am telling you not to worry about your life and what you are to eat, nor about your body and what you are to wear. Surely life is more than food, and the body more than clothing! Look at the birds in the sky. They do not sow or reap or gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they are? -Mt 6:25-26