Cruising with Grace

Maria V. Gallagher invites you to turn your vehicle into a sanctuary for prayer.

Motherhood made me a road warrior.

After I had my daughter, I found that I had to spend more time than ever in the car. Whether it was attending La Leche meetings to seek fellowship with other nursing moms, running to the supermarket to replenish my supply of “must-have” items, or driving to the department store to pick up clothes for my baby girl, I found plenty of opportunities to head for the highway.

Over the years, I have found the trips to be more spiritual fruitful if I remember to cruise with grace.

What does that mean? It involves rekindling my relationship with Jesus as I add more miles to my odometer. It means reaching out to the Lord in the midst of the daily whirl, bringing to him my cares and concerns. It elevates my mind, helping me to focus on the things of heaven.

I like to think of my car as a sanctuary, where genuine, heartfelt prayer can occur. I especially like the following definition of prayer, which comes courtesy of one of my favorite saints, St. Thérèse of Lisieux, who is also known as “The Little Flower”:

For me, prayer is a burst from my heart, it is a simple glance thrown toward Heaven, a cry of thanksgiving and love in times of trial as well as in times of joy.

While St. Thérèse might not have been a road warrior, her view of prayer certainly speaks to carpooling moms and dads and grandparents of the 21st century. I know that, for me, prayer is often “a burst from my heart”; it is a sudden urge to communicate with the Almighty about the trials and tribulations of my day.

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I believe St. Thérèse also gets it right when she talks about prayer being a “simple glance.” So often, I feel that I unnecessarily complicate what prayer is about, rather than viewing it as a lifting of my head toward Heaven for a bit of supernatural sustenance. I can discover God in simplicity if I but turn to Him with a humble heart.

St. Thérèse notes that we should pray both in times of trial and in times when joy abounds. This perspective points to the truth that the basis of prayer is relationship. Rather than rattling off words, we should take the time to communicate with our Lord on an intentional, highly personal basis. I find that my favorite times of prayer are those occasions when I allow myself to be vulnerable and to bring my deepest longings to God. At those precious times, I feel a connection that I might not otherwise experience.

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I have found that my vehicle can be a terrific spot to pray at least a decade of the Rosary. For those who are not familiar, the Rosary is a meditative prayer based on a series of mysteries: the Joyful, the Sorrowful, the Luminous, and the Glorious. The Rosary begins with the Apostles Creed, which is then followed by an Our Father and three Hail Marys. Five decades follow, each begun with an Our Father and supplemented by ten Hail Marys.

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What would it take for you to make your daily commutes or errands an opportunity for prayer? #catholicmom

I admit, praying an entire Rosary—even though it may take only about 15 or 20 minutes—can seem daunting. That’s why I like to pray a “divine decade” on car trips. You can also pray a decade silently on board a bus or a train or a plane. The location does not matter as much as the intent. I find that praying just one decade helps to calm me and settle my soul for what God has to say to me that day.

To cruise with grace also means opening oneself up to the power and promise of the Holy Spirit, asking this Third Person of the Blessed Trinity to be with us as we go about fulfilling our daily duties. With the Holy Spirit as our guide, we can achieve the kind of growth in our spiritual life we did not even think possible.