How Do You Cope?

[InPersonaChriste]

I pray and draw... all the time, and I am very impatient

[MargaretTeresa]

I try to go to daily Mass everyday. I was upset I couldn't go today; my parents were in town.
I pray morning and evening prayer, and pray whenever I can during the day.
I AM THE PRAYER WARRIOR.
I try to read my Bible everyday.
I blog about my faith journey, etc.
And recently, I've started painting. Today I found the neatest little canvas cards that are meant to be used to make "artist trading cards." Uh-uh. Prayer cards, ftw.

Pax and God bless

[Santa Cruz]

[quote name='MaterMisericordiae' timestamp='1305318927' post='2241002']
I love that song from "Fireproof"! I was crying during that movie.
[/quote]

Fireproof, another movie I have to see.

[Sarah147]

[quote name='MaterMisericordiae' timestamp='1305318927' post='2241002']
I love that song from "Fireproof"! I was crying during that movie.
[/quote]


I used to have it in my profile. I loooooove that movie and the music.

Everyone, you have GOT to see Fireproof the movie. It is so beautiful and clean, and it makes you cry. I looooove their conversion and the ending. I'd love it if Kirk in real life came to the Catholic Faith, and then did a movie sequel where they are coming into the Church, and have children, lots.

[Sr. Gina]

[quote name='nunsense' timestamp='1305189264' post='2240426']
There are quite a few nice poems about waiting... just google poem waiting.

I personally like this one...

[center]Wait
by Russell Kelfer [/center]

Desperately, helplessly, longingly, I cried;
Quietly, patiently, lovingly, God replied.
I pled and I wept for a clue to my fate . . .
And the Master so gently said, "Wait."

"Wait? you say wait?" my indignant reply.
"Lord, I need answers, I need to know why!
Is your hand shortened? Or have you not heard?
By faith I have asked, and I'm claiming your Word.

"My future and all to which I relate
Hangs in the balance, and you tell me to wait?
I'm needing a 'yes', a go-ahead sign,
Or even a 'no' to which I can resign.

"You promised, dear Lord, that if we believe,
We need but to ask, and we shall receive.
And Lord I've been asking, and this is my cry:
I'm weary of asking! I need a reply."

Then quietly, softly, I learned of my fate,
As my Master replied again, "Wait."
So I slumped in my chair, defeated and taut,
And grumbled to God, "So, I'm waiting for what?"

He seemed then to kneel, and His eyes met with mine . . .
and He tenderly said, "I could give you a sign.
I could shake the heavens and darken the sun.
I could raise the dead and cause mountains to run.

"I could give all you seek and pleased you would be.
You'd have what you want, but you wouldn't know Me.
You'd not know the depth of my love for each saint.
You'd not know the power that I give to the faint.

"You'd not learn to see through clouds of despair;
You'd not learn to trust just by knowing I'm there.
You'd not know the joy of resting in Me
When darkness and silence are all you can see.

"You'd never experience the fullness of love
When the peace of My spirit descends like a dove.
You would know that I give, and I save, for a start,
But you'd not know the depth of the beat of My heart.

"The glow of my comfort late into the night,
The faith that I give when you walk without sight.
The depth that's beyond getting just what you ask
From an infinite God who makes what you have last.

"You'd never know, should your pain quickly flee,
What it means that My grace is sufficient for thee.
Yes, your dearest dreams overnight would come true,
But, oh, the loss, if you missed what I'm doing in you.

"So, be silent, my child, and in time you will see
That the greatest of gifts is to truly know me.
And though oft My answers seem terribly late,
My most precious answer of all is still . . . Wait."
[/quote]

Absolutely beautiful! Thanks a lot for the post.

[Catherine Therese]

Every now and then, in one of those rare, lucid moments, I remember that this moment right now isn't about what will happen in 3 months time. I'm not actually waiting at all, not really. I'm living now, with the hope of beautiful things in my future, but still living now. My focus shifts to an awareness that God has given me THIS moment and I should do something worthwhile with it.


Then I consciously say to the Lord 'I give my NOW to You.'
A second or so later I say ' and now, too.'
And then I say 'and now.'

Then I have a private little chuckle at how silly this all seems.

But each time I do it I'm reminded that this is actually important. I might not have DONE anything as I was saying those things... I may not have produced anything that feeds someone or heats their house or done anything that contributes to the material goods of the world. I might not have interacted with any other people during that time. I may not have done anything in that moment EXCEPT offer it to the Lord. But isn't that the best thing I could have done with it? Isn't the Lord going to do WAY MORE with that instant than I could possibly hope to do on my own strength?

I think thats the point. Even when I'm busily occupied with the matters of this world - with earning my paycheck, with helping someone with something... whatever I'm doing I need to do it as if it were in and of itself an implicit offering of that moment to the Lord.

That sounds mysteriously reminiscent of Colossians 3:23, does it not?

[Tally Marx]

[quote name='Catherine Therese' timestamp='1305733733' post='2243236']
Every now and then, in one of those rare, lucid moments, I remember that this moment right now isn't about what will happen in 3 months time. I'm not actually waiting at all, not really. I'm living now, with the hope of beautiful things in my future, but still living now. My focus shifts to an awareness that God has given me THIS moment and I should do something worthwhile with it.


Then I consciously say to the Lord 'I give my NOW to You.'
A second or so later I say ' and now, too.'
And then I say 'and now.'

Then I have a private little chuckle at how silly this all seems.

But each time I do it I'm reminded that this is actually important. I might not have DONE anything as I was saying those things... I may not have produced anything that feeds someone or heats their house or done anything that contributes to the material goods of the world. I might not have interacted with any other people during that time. I may not have done anything in that moment EXCEPT offer it to the Lord. But isn't that the best thing I could have done with it? Isn't the Lord going to do WAY MORE with that instant than I could possibly hope to do on my own strength?

I think thats the point. Even when I'm busily occupied with the matters of this world - with earning my paycheck, with helping someone with something... whatever I'm doing I need to do it as if it were in and of itself an implicit offering of that moment to the Lord.

That sounds mysteriously reminiscent of Colossians 3:23, does it not?



[/quote]



^ I like this.

[FutureSister2009]

I don't think I ever mentioned what ministries I contribute to. I sing in choir, I used to altar serve and I was in our youth group. I wish I could get involved in more though. I've always wanted to teach CCD and RCIA. But since I'm theoretically going away to college in the fall, I can't sign up this year. Maybe after I finally do enter into Religious Life, I will get to do these things. I have assisted with First Penance and First Communion retreats and we have a little summer weeklong program called Cherubs that I have helped out with as well. I'm debating on whether or not I'll do it again this summer. I need to keep myself busy.

At home, I've been working and saving as much money as possible to get myself into the convent faster. I've also been cleaning out my room. Donating to charity. There are things I can't part with yet and I won't be ready to until I have an entrance date.

Did I also mention I absolutely love to participate in our major Parish events? Yes like our pastor's Anniversary Mass yesterday and our various processions like Good Friday, the May Procession and now I'm anxiously waiting for the Corpus Christi Mass and Procession. Oh and we are starting the St. Anthony Novena in two or three weeks!

Edited May 23, 2011 by FutureSister2009

[Yaatee]

[quote name='Catherine Therese' timestamp='1305733733' post='2243236']
Every now and then, in one of those rare, lucid moments, I remember that this moment right now isn't about what will happen in 3 months time. I'm not actually waiting at all, not really. I'm living now, with the hope of beautiful things in my future, but still living now. My focus shifts to an awareness that God has given me THIS moment and I should do something worthwhile with it.


Then I consciously say to the Lord 'I give my NOW to You.'
A second or so later I say ' and now, too.'
And then I say 'and now.'

Then I have a private little chuckle at how silly this all seems.

But each time I do it I'm reminded that this is actually important. I might not have DONE anything as I was saying those things... I may not have produced anything that feeds someone or heats their house or done anything that contributes to the material goods of the world. I might not have interacted with any other people during that time. I may not have done anything in that moment EXCEPT offer it to the Lord. But isn't that the best thing I could have done with it? Isn't the Lord going to do WAY MORE with that instant than I could possibly hope to do on my own strength?

I think that's the point. Even when I'm busily occupied with the matters of this world - with earning my paycheck, with helping someone with something... whatever I'm doing I need to do it as if it were in and of itself an implicit offering of that moment to the Lord.

That sounds mysteriously reminiscent of Colossians 3:23, does it not?[/quote]

It sounds mysteriously reminiscent of Buddhist philosophy--the living in the present. Something we should all strive for. Old Zen story: Long time devotee visits The Master, asks "O great Master, what can I do to attain Enlightenment? I meditate 20 hours a day!" Master says," When you entered my house and took off your shoes (what you do in the East), which shoe did you take off first?" Devotee hesitates and replies, "I don't know, Master!" Master chuckled and says, "Go home and meditate for another 20 years !"

[BigJon16]

This is advice I have received from my SD when I told him how impatient I've been about my vocation. Its really helped me:

[quote]Remember to be patient with God, and with yourself. God knows your future and wants the best for you. He knows what you need, and when you need it. Parts of your journey will feel slow, while other parts will fly by. St John Vianney, Patron Saint of Priests, had a long and difficult road to the priesthood. My call to the Diaconate took 20 years to complete. Dealing with doubts and temptations is part of your journey and a testing of your humble submission to God in all aspects of your life, wherever He leads you. To keep you heart pure along your journey, you should go to confession monthly. You need God’s grace in this sacrament to see and hear God clearly.

In Jn 14:12, Jesus says [color="#FF0000"]“Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these, because I am going to the Father.” [/color]


Be persistent and steadfast.

Jesus waited 30 years before He began his public ministry.

Paul was sent back to his hometown of Tarsus (Acts 9:30) after his conversion, before Barnabas called him back years later (Acts 11:25). Paul tells us in Gal 2:1 that it was 14 years before he saw Peter again.

Paul also tells us that the first and most important ingredient of love is patience! (1st Cor 13:4). True love waits! We rejoice that God is very patient with us (i.e. slow to anger; rich in mercy). My own journey to become a Deacon lasted 20 years across several states from the time God first placed the idea in my head. I thought I was ready earlier, but God had the best plan for me that meant I had to pass many tests before I was ready for the responsibilities of a Deacon here.

This is what I meant that we must “walk by Faith”. Jesus knows the way. He IS the Way! We must entrust ourselves to God that He will lead us along the right path, and then continue down that path in sunshine and in rain, in good times and in bad. Because anyone can walk a path when it’s easy, but true love is revealed only when it is tested and passes through hard times. Then we can see if the love we claim to have for God is strong enough to carry us when the journey grows unpleasant. And when we stumble and fall, we rely on God’s grace to pick us up so we can continue along the path.

But don’t focus on the long journey ahead. “Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself.” (Mt 6:34).
[/quote]

I hope this helps anyone who is feeling impatient, as I have before.

[FutureSister2009]

^^^^^^ Very helpful BigJon16


I also just framed the picture of me with my Sisters that's on my profile so every morning and every night I'll always be reminded that my family is waiting for me just as I am waiting for them.

[vee]

[quote name='MaterMisericordiae' timestamp='1305177430' post='2240393']
How do you cope with waiting?

What are your ministries and activities?
[/quote]

and

[FutureSister2009]

[quote name='vee8' timestamp='1306259517' post='2245410']
and
[/quote]





Let me join you on that!

[LaPetiteSoeur]

[quote name='vee8' timestamp='1306259517' post='2245410']
and
[/quote]

Replace the beer with tea and you got it right.

[bmb144]

Pray, read and try not to dwell on it is the way I handle it. In my case though, I care for my mum, so I have that responsibility and that does tend to numb down the impatience factor. Its not like I can do all that much, just stay in touch with the communities who are prepared to enter into a long term dialogue and learn what I can and wait.

LOTH is my core practice and I find as I get closer to end of my theology degree I am using it more to explain the churches doctrine to both Catholic friends and non Catholic friends. I get to confession and Mass on the days where my mum is ok to be left and I just try to live each day, one day at a time.

I'm simply waiting for the day that I will free to take discernment to the next level. i had hopes of visiting one community but as my mum has to have some medical tests done I doubt I'll get there till mid next year now.