Reflection: Little children proudly show the poo in their potty to their parents and say: ‘Look what I did.’ Nothing much changes when we grow up. We still say (at least to ourselves), ‘look what I did.’ We validate ourselves and seek to establish our significance by what we do and achieve––sometimes to the point of addiction.
But then something like cancer comes… and, in its wake, long periods of inactivity because the body is too weary to do anything. And my addicted self-cries out, ‘I must do something.’ At that moment, I experience in a tiny way, something of what persecuted Christians feel when they are imprisoned for their faith––enduring enforced inactivity. Then God, in his grace, whispers a truth to my heart. ‘Give these times of isolation and inactivity to me as an offering and meet with me in them.
So now I seek to do so.
Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, It is only those things done for you that are worth anything. Sometimes I can only offer my weakness and my suffering. Accept them Lord, I pray.