Ordinary Challenges

Late back from the Manchester OCDS meeting last night – motorway jams due to roadworks.  There is something very special about this group – apart from anything else, it keeps growing every month, which is very unusual in my experience.  I received an excellent lesson on the way home.  I always think that we make our struggles worse by thinking about what could be the case.  We lead a second imaginary life in which things might be better – especially in regard perhaps to illness – ‘If only I was well I could do this and that’ – instead of accepting God’s will and learning patience in the suffering.  All this was prompted by our reading of Teresa’s Life chapter 6 where she is describing her experience of very severe illness.  She encourages us to cultivate patience …  Well, as I was starting to steam impatiently in the seemingly never-ending roadworks queue, I realised I was falling into the if only trap.  Instead of entering into the moment and living it as the divine will (perhaps by going into prayer), I was concentrating on the frustrations of the stop-start movement – ‘I only want to get home!’  These little challenges are such an important part of our daily lives. 

Intercessions

Pope Leo as he recovers from his operation for cancer.

Cancer: Brian Davis, Bernard (and wife Angela caring for him), Catherine, Alex (43 with five children), Theresa K, Elena

Ivy – sick child

Brian (recovering from Pneumonia)

Kevin (heart attack)

William Gove (in recovery)

Illness:  Katy Keeling, Noreen

David OCDS – housebound

Mark – brain infection

Michael, Kira – vulnerable youngsters

Defence of the unborn and the elderly