“Thou movest us to delight in praising Thee; for Thou hast formed us for Thyself, and our hearts are restless till they find rest in Thee.” – St. Augustine, Confessions
I think most writers are naturally introspective and reflective. During my prayer time recently, I prayed for strength and courage to stay focused on the path Christ wants me to follow. I prayed that my heart and mind would be prepared for the family and work challenges in front of me. As I sometimes remember to do, I let my mind grow quiet and tried to listen as much as I prayed. The quote from St. Augustine above, which is one of my favorites, crossed my mind and I thought of little else for the rest of my time in the parish chapel. The word from the quote which resonated most with my desire to stay on the right path was restless. Why “restless”?
Restlessness has plagued me most of my life. I thought the uneasy restlessness I began feeling as a teenager was a desire to move away from home and go to college or have career success, but that wasn’t it. Then I thought getting married and having a family would calm my restlessness. But that wasn’t it either. It wasn’t until 2005, when I experienced a profound personal conversion, surrendered to Christ and joined the Catholic Church with my family that I recognized my misdiagnosed restlessness was really a lifelong search for the Truth. When I found the Truth, did my restlessness come to an end? No, but now it manifests itself in different ways.
When I experienced the truth of Christ in the Church He founded, I thought my search was over. In reality, it was only beginning. I have come to understand that my conversion and surrender to Christ must be an ongoing process and not a one-time event. My restlessness still crops up from time to time, especially when I am not actively living out my faith. When my sinful behavior pulls me away from Christ, I feel a sense of loss like a dull ache. It is only made better by once again drawing closer to Him. How do I find my way back to Christ when I stray from the path?
- The Sacraments. Specifically, focusing my time and attention on the Sacraments of the Eucharist, Reconciliation and Marriage. I try to be mindful of the incredible blessing and miracle I am receiving through Christ’s Body and Blood in Mass or by praying before the Blessed Sacrament during Adoration. I go more frequently to Reconciliation to confess my sins and realize (once again!) what a blessing it is to be married to my wonderful wife.
- Live my Vocation. I must remember that my vocation is not my career. My vocation is to help my family and everyone else I know get to Heaven. My job exists to serve my family…not the other way around.
- Practice Detachment. The world is constantly trying to pull me away from my relationship with Christ. When I practice detachment from our culture and its negative influences I more clearly recognize and value the blessings I have received from our Lord.
- Serve Others. My giving to others is ultimately a gift right back to me. When I devote myself to ministry work, writing, speaking or just counseling a person in need, I feel that I am serving Christ and living in His will.
- Be Humble. My pride is a significant obstacle to my relationship with Christ. It is sometimes so palpable that I feel I am choking on this sin that is so common and so difficult to overcome. I pray for humility every day.
- Pray Well. I pray daily, but do I pray well? Finding quiet time or being able to lose myself in prayer during exercise or the car ride home is a precious gift that I strive for daily. Praying the Rosary, blessings over every meal, the Morning Offering and the Jesuit Daily Examen are foundational pieces of my prayer life. When I am praying I know I am speaking with the One I love and serve.
My unsatisfied restlessness over the years obscured my vision and often kept me from seeing God’s miracles all around me. I said “No” to God for over two decades until I let go of my pride and surrendered to Him in 2005. When I flipped a switch and began saying, “Yes”, I redirected that formerly negative energy into serving Him. Now, I am blessed to see God’s handiwork in my children, marriage, friendships, business life, writing, prayer life and the ministry work I am privileged to do in the Church.
I have also come to realize over the last several years that when you truly experience the Truth, you can never get enough of it. It is a craving that can only be satisfied by Jesus Christ and the path to Him which leads through the Catholic Church. I may always struggle with my restless heart, but I know that I will find the peace I seek if I am faithful in following Him and His Church.
St. Augustine… please pray for us. Amen.
Image credit: “St. Augustine in His Study” (detail) | Vittore Carpaccio, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
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