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Before I forget&
Someone made the comment about me that I must not be a very good parent because I had to take a weekend respite from my teenage kids. It made me wonder what that person's expectation might be about parenting.
For myself, I can't be an effective parent if I don't take care of myself. In fact, how I take care of myself will be the most significant life skill my kids will internalize from me.
I must say, after the "free" weekend was over, I was really looking forward to seeing the kids again... I missed them. I felt good about having them back again. I'm not sure I was fully rejuvenated, but my spirit was refilled.
In today's Gospel, I reflect on a couple of phrases. The first... "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." (Luke 11:21).
Much of the time, when I find myself being exhausted or irritated with the little things in life, I find a corresponding lack of time with the Lord. These times are when I'm trying to control, direct or guide. Those habits get in the way of my listening - both to family and to God.
In a sense, when Jesus and God are not with me, I die. When I become to pre-occupied with the everyday schedules and needs instead of finding time in prayer, I die. After a while, it all catches up.
The second phrase that catches my attention is " 'Lazarus, come out!' The dead man came out." (Luke 11:43,44). When I die, I depend upon the Lord to raise me up again. I am refreshed. I can look at things and life a little bit more lovingly (and my kids too!).
During Lent, it's a little easier for me to focus on my dying. It's a little easier for me to reach out to God and asked to be raised from my dying. Why it is easier? Because the whole community celebrates this time of dying, of desert, of cleansing.
It's hard to depend upon God sometimes, but the only success stories I can tell in my life are the ones where I had to depend on God.
Rick Craig
Youth Minister
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