In any relationship, friendship, or other similar connection, there are two kinds of people.
There is one who either plans every single minute of time spent together or needs it all filled with one activity after another, and one who is content not planning anything ahead of time, going with the flow to see what happens, or is just happy to be in the presence of the other person.
Connections can be strained when these dynamics are not compatible with each other.
Noticeable signs of the phenomenon are conversations that sound like, “What do you want to do?”
“I don’t know. What do you want to do?”
“I’ll do whatever. What do you want to do?”
“You pick. I don’t care.”
And so on.
Many connections can end when too many of these conversations take place, especially in the dating world.
To those are who not good with coming up with ideas (or are worried the other person won’t like said ideas that are come up with) or those who feel the strain and pressure of filling all of the time with one busy activity after another, I have splendid news.
There is a friendship, to put it lightly, that you can have that requires not a lot of planning other than time, and where you can receive fulfillment beyond your imagination.
An ‘easy’ friendship made difficult
How is your friendship with God looking lately?
Do you cringe, roll your eyes, or feel awkward at the very notion that you could, and should be friends with God?
It’s really not as hard as you think.
The simplest way you can spend time with your friend the Almighty is through prayer.
I know you pray. I know some of you pray daily. Are you still not feeling the love?
Let me guess. You are too bogged down in planning all of the details of your time spent with your friend.
You have to pray the Rosary, you need to pray the Divine Office, you have to pray for this intention and that intention, and most of all, you need to feel like you’re getting something out of it.
Why does it have to be about us? (I’ll include myself in this, also).
Why do we have to feel like we’ve spent a fulfilling time only when we “get” something out of it, whether it be a sense of peace, an answered prayer, etc.?
Did we ever stop and think God just wants us there with Him?
Maybe He doesn’t want a full schedule or an itinerary. He just wants us to be with Him, to spend time with Him, and to adore Him.
A deep friendship with God is one in which you can go over to “His place” and just, as I put it, “hang out”.
Give Him the time and don’t worry about getting something out of it.
Think of those people in your life who you are just happy to be around no matter what you end up doing together.
That’s God. That’s what He wants sometimes. He just wants you to come over and spend time with Him.
The ‘How?’
There are many ways to “hang out” with God.
Go to Mass. Go to church before Mass. Go to Adoration.
Are those not as easy for you to do as some?
Make silent time within your home and be with Him. Don’t worry about the prayer cards, prayer books, or Rosaries, just be . . . with . . . Him. Go outside and embrace His creation. Be in awe of all He has done for you and the world around you.
When you give your time to Him and just be there with Him, “Wow” may be the only word you can utter.
(That all being said, you should still be going to Mass every Sunday.)
Don’t pressure yourself to have the perfect prayer life or gauge your time praying or spent with God based on your own ideas of success, just be present with Him.
It sounds so simple, yet we make it so difficult.
I can’t speak to what will happen to you and your life by surrendering this time to Him in a simple presence, but it certainly can’t hurt.
Happy Easter
As we near Easter and the reminder of a Risen Christ, let’s take time to strive for new perfections in our lives.
Our closeness with God will always need improvement. Let’s start with our prayer lives.
Let us make it less about what we want and more about what we can give to God.
Your needs and intentions won’t go unnoticed. He knows what you need just as much as you do, if not more.
Let us also embrace the graces and gifts of Divine Mercy Sunday that completes the Easter Octave.
May you all have a happy and blessed Easter season.
Thank you for reading.
I’m praying for you.