I keep a reflective journal and try to record my thoughts and events as well as special quotes, sayings, prayers or poems when I read.  I pulled these journals out the other day and reread them. What was interesting was during the chaotic and hectic times of the past couple years my writings appeared light and carefree as if I was managing the hectic times with ease. At other times I have writings that communicate an extreme ‘tiredness’. In fact I often write “I am so tired, I need to rest or I need to go on retreat”.  As I parallel these times ….I find that during the most chaotic and hectic times …my daily rituals with prayer, attending church, and prayer group is consistent and I am attentive to my faith….when my writings communicate extreme tiredness I find I interrupt my prayer life routine…I do not attend to my morning reflection, I miss church, I do not keep up on my readings and I do not have my daily conversations with God.  

Today’s Gospel “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden light” is a powerful message for me and a reminder how God wants my burdens, my anxieties, and my troubles. When I “hand them over” my ability to manage them gives me an entirely different experience than if I try and handle them myself.  It also affects my colleagues, my family members, my friends and all those who interact with me while I carry my worries and concerns (burdens). When I hand over my burdens to God I am more engaged, kind, forgiving, joyful with colleagues, family and friends.  So in closing I pray to be attentive to my daily prayer it is a gift I give myself and others. 

In closing I found a beautiful prayer I would like to share from my reflective journal that is focused on hope…..by Holly Girth…

God, sometimes this world is hard to understand.
And even when we trust you, our hearts still ache.
So we come to you today asking for the hope we need.
Hope that sees past the here and now to the then and there.
Hope that believes what we cannot yet glimpse.
Hope that holds our hearts up in the moments when life brings us to our knees.
You are the only one who can sustain us.
You are the only one who can save us.
Be the rescuer of our souls, the deliver of our dreams, the holder of our hearts.
We believe that even the darkest night must lead to dawn.
We wait with expectation.
Give us Courage. Surround us with Comfort.
Love us through to the other side in a way that only you can.
We put our hope and our hope for those we love, in you.
Amen