Deacon Tom Fox

GIMME TEN (SAYS THE LORD) ©
by Deacon Tom Fox
www.deacontomonline.com

Well gosh – here we are moms – September -- and for some, it means school and an the end to the ‘lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer.’ For some – it’s pre-school. How was summer for you? I really did think about you – and I really did pray for you. God willing, you were able to break away and do some family things together. If you read my last Catholicmom column – you saw that I talked about finding some quiet time – some alone time with God. Were you able to do some of that? I hope and pray that it was something you could get into… And in a sense, I would like to continue with that theme – but from a slightly different approach…

When I was in the military (oh, so many years ago) – there was an expression: “Drop and gimme ten!” As a young soldier, if someone said that to me, it meant that I should get down on the ground and do ten pushups. I might have been told this by way of a correction for something I did (or didn’t do). More often, it was a way of ‘discipline’ – a type of formation if you will. And perhaps I was guided to remember those experiences as I start to prepare this month’s column. I will ask our dear Lord to share some loving guidance – with a gentle form of ‘Gimme Ten.’ Now let me explain and give example…

Some of you may know of Sister Patricia Proctor who does a Joy Notes e-column Monday through Friday of each week. (If you wish to look her up – she can be found at www.calledbyjoy.com)

Earlier this summer, in her e-column, there was a proposal for doing a simple ten-minute retreat each day…. Hence the title I came up with, “Gimme Ten.” I offer this idea not in the demanding sense of a drill instructor in the military – but as in the Lord saying to you, “Will you find a way to just give me ten minutes from your day? Just ten – please?” I offer this as an invitation for a kind of spiritual formation – a formation in a deeper relationship with your best friend, Jesus.

When you’re ready to try this, set a timer for ten minutes – and as I’ve suggested before – begin to quiet your mind. Make sure you’ve turned off anything that would distract you. And now let me borrow from Sister Proctor’s meditation construct:  “Imagine that you are entering into a beautiful garden on a warm, sunny day. The birds are singing, a bee is buzzing from flower to flower, a small stream nearby is bubbling a gurgling melody. In this garden are two chairs, both empty. You walk over and sit in one. In a little while you know that Jesus will be coming and sitting in the next one. This is your Prayer Garden - a place just for you and Jesus to meet and spend time together. While you are waiting think about what questions you might have for him. After a few minutes, Jesus comes and sits in the chair next to you.”

From your heart -- ask Jesus your questions, and share with him your worries and struggles. Leave a few moments of time to let him speak to you.

As your timer expires – thank your best friend for this time together. Tell him of the love you have and how much deeper you wish it to be. Tell Jesus of the desire to meet with him again in this beautiful and special ten-minute prayer garden.

Now – because we are all different or we live in different settings – the meditative placement in a garden may not be best for you. For example, I live high in the Rocky Mountains. So for me – it would be easy to exchange the garden setting for sitting on a rock in a mountain meadow with many aspen trees, with leaves ‘quaking’ in gentle breezes. For others – it might be a seashore setting. Whatever helps you to enter into that place of quiet and intimacy with Jesus is just great.

I have other ideas to explore with you moms in future columns – far different than these from columns about desert quietness or ten-minute retreats. But one thing I wish to repeat (and repeat) is the serious, chronic need for us all (this oft-busy deacon included) to find time to stop and commune with Him who is the source of water from the well – with Him who is peace – with Him who is love.

And also repeating: God loves you. I love you. I pray for you and your families. Until we meet again, I am your Deacon Tom. I’d love to hear from you at: www.deacontomonline.com.

Tom Fox is an ordained Deacon serving in the Archdiocese of Denver. He is currently assigned to a small mountain community outside of Rocky Mountain National Park. Tom receives many requests for copies of his homilies -- and many recent homilies and experiential reflections are found on his website: www.deacontomonline.com. Tom would love to hear from you and will try to answer any questions or sharing that you send in.

 

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