Does Your School/work/life Conflict With Your Faith

[MarieLynn]

[quote name='CatherineM' date='22 January 2010 - 03:06 PM' timestamp='1264125964' post='2041944']
There are some advantages to being retired.
[/quote]

I am fast getting to that stage!! One more year and I think I will call it a day. lol.

[KeenanParkerII]

Lucky retirees.

[TeresaBenedicta]

Surprisingly, I find that being at school helps tremendously with my prayer/spiritual life. I think it's for a variety of reason: I'm in a good atmosphere that tends toward the Good and Holy, I'm held accountable by friends who are also striving for holiness, the Sacraments are readily available, etc. I also find that being busier is helpful for some reason. When I go home and have nothing to do all day long, I waste my time on the internet, watching movies, video games, etc. I rarely get in prayer or daily Mass. Yet at school, despite being infinitely busier, my prayer life becomes essential to my every day.

I do find, sometimes, that being at school has its own difficulties. One that I struggle with often is being open to the inspirations of the Holy Spirit in regards to being available to others. Being a student, in some ways, lends itself toward a more selfish attitude. For example, I have my own responsibilities to attend to (homework, classes, work, meetings, etc). My day revolves around thinking about what I need to be doing and how to do it best. When I'm relaxing, I want to be hanging out with [i]my[/i] friends. It becomes difficult to open myself to others who might need or desire my time, my prayers, my encouragement, etc.

[CatherineM]

[quote name='KeenanParkerII' date='21 January 2010 - 09:47 PM' timestamp='1264132067' post='2042009']
Lucky retirees.
[/quote]
All you've got to do is fall on your head, and they will ask you to retire too.

[Ora et Labora]

I can totally read the bible at school! I'm kinda proud about it actually. But I can't pray...that just LOOKS weird when I see people doing it!

[Happy_Catholic]

[quote name='MarieLynn' date='21 January 2010 - 10:46 PM' timestamp='1264132006' post='2042008']
I am fast getting to that stage!! One more year and I think I will call it a day. lol.
[/quote]

A former lecturer of mine and a close family friend, she's celebrating her 52nd year of nursing, and she's still going strong!

[AccountDeleted]

[quote name='CatherineM' date='22 January 2010 - 01:06 PM' timestamp='1264125964' post='2041944']
There are some advantages to being retired.
[/quote]


or unemployed... but who woulda thunk it??

[zunshynn]

I try to remind myself that fulfilling the duties that I have please Jesus more than if I was spending more time in prayer. As long as you want to do so, you can give Jesus all of the mundane tasks of your day as a prayer... and He is just as delighted with it as if you were praying. Not to say that it isn't important to make time for prayer and spiritual reading, etc... but fulfilling the tasks of one's state in life for the glory of God is really the first way in which we encounter God. You just have to look for him a little harder!

[KeenanParkerII]

[quote]I try to remind myself that fulfilling the duties that I have please Jesus more than if I was spending more time in prayer. As long as you want to do so, you can give Jesus all of the mundane tasks of your day as a prayer... and He is just as delighted with it as if you were praying. Not to say that it isn't important to make time for prayer and spiritual reading, etc... but fulfilling the tasks of one's state in life for the glory of God is really the first way in which we encounter God. You just have to look for him a little harder![/quote]

Thanks Zun, it was good to hear that.

[MIKolbe]

does my life conflict with my faith?

yes, it's called sin.

[Archaeology cat]

[quote name='HisChildForever' date='22 January 2010 - 12:55 AM' timestamp='1264121759' post='2041912']
Well, another problem is when I do have time, I use that time for something other than prayer - movies, phone, AIM, and forums like you said. Then once I do actually open my Bible, I wonder why I've waited so long.
[/quote]
You & me both.

[little_miss_late]

[quote name='KeenanParkerII' date='21 January 2010 - 08:18 PM' timestamp='1264123089' post='2041919']
word. I spend more time thinking about praying and reading the Bible than doing it. But that's because its a little awkward to be reading and praying in the Cafeteria.
[/quote]

I do most of my reading and praying on public transit, when I am not at home. It is awkward at first but, so was praying at first. I have never had anyone give me a hard time. Most people don't notice. The first time I took a Bible on the train I was a little worried that someone would give me a hard time. Instead a woman sat down next to me and graded papers for the whole trip, then as she was getting off the train she said, "I'm a Christian too." It was nice and also weird because no one had ever called me a Christian before.

[KeenanParkerII]

[quote]I do most of my reading and praying on public transit, when I am not at home. It is awkward at first but, so was praying at first. I have never had anyone give me a hard time. Most people don't notice. The first time I took a Bible on the train I was a little worried that someone would give me a hard time. Instead a woman sat down next to me and graded papers for the whole trip, then as she was getting off the train she said, "I'm a Christian too." It was nice and also weird because no one had ever called me a Christian before.[/quote]

haha, it's a good feeling huh. It's like being out in the world and knowing you have a bunch of family members out there that you've never met.

If I can get used to it, I'll give bringing the Bible to school a shot.

[Totus Tuus]

All I can say is that if you want to make time for God, you can. It might mean waking up earlier or skipping time on PM or Facebook or TV, but it's always possible. I am just speaking from experience here. Even in the craziest of times it can be done.

[CatherineM]

I do love going to school where mass is said before class two doors down from the classroom.