Making Time for God

Most recently I had a meeting with a diocesan consultant at the former Catholic Convent of Richmond Hill, Richmond, Virginia. The convent was originally built after the War Between the States in the 1860’s. Situated on a hill overlooking the city, Richmond Hill's primary purpose was to watch over the city in careful, methodical and unceasing prayer. Richmond, like many southern cities was in utter chaos and destruction after its fall. The Southern troops and local inhabitants actually did most of the damage to the city as they fled the Union army. They burned all of the warehouses and anything else that might provide comfort and support for the enemy. To say the least, the city was in shambles and suddenly under Union control as well as marshal law. The sisters, who were moved to Richmond Hill by their bishop, had one mission – to pray without ceasing over the devastated city.

Richmond Hill, like so many monastic or former monastic facilities is a place that is rich and immersed in prayer. While Richmond Hill is no longer a convent, it is a place of spiritual retreat and solitude. So much sincere and faithful prayer has been lifted up to God within that small but beautiful compound; there is a genuine presence of stepping onto Holy Ground.

We all need respite from the daily grind of life. We all need a few moments to simply stop and pray and listen to that still small voice of God. We live in a fast paced world that demands immediate results, and as much of our time as it can steal. Work ethic has transformed in many places to ‘the more we do in a day, the more productive we are in that day.’ Never mind taking care of oneself spiritually, mentally, physically and emotionally; the world demands a price to function in our modern day society and if we don’t pay the piper then we are taught the consequence is utter failure and ridicule. What a terrible way to live! Many of us have experienced the challenge of balancing work, family and self-care. The first item that usually goes by the way side when we are under pressure is the one thing we need the most – healthy lives committed to a solid spiritual formation. Trust me, as ironic and strange as it may sound the church and her clergy, lay staff and volunteers often fall into the exact same trap. The church is made up of human-beings and not immune to our brokenness.

I learned a valuable lesson regarding my spiritual life and ministry during my brief stay at Richmond Hill. I learned just how easy it is to become so self-absorbed and distracted that we neglect our prayer life and spiritual growth. Standing, kneeling and sitting in a room that was so rich and immersed in prayer was not only incredibly refreshing and spiritually reinvigorating, it was also a blessing and reminder from God about my true priorities and needs.

Christ is the Incarnate God who abides in us whether we take time to recognize his presence or not. I encourage us all to seek out time and places to renew our lives and spirits. I encourage us all to enter into a life of intentional prayer and silence, even if it is for just a brief amount of time. It is amazing how even the briefest time spent in the presence of God has the ability to rejuvenate our lives, calm our spirits and reprioritize our lives in a most healthy manner. Life’s challenges will always be there to confront us as that is simply living life on life's terms. Yet when we take the time to enter Holy Ground we will emerge refined and better able to meet those challenges with a deeper faith and steadfast spiritual foundation. It is in the still silence and quietness of our hearts that we become grounded in God's love and compassion, and much better prepared to meet the daily grind that lies just around the corner.