November 15: Calm before and during Busy Holiday Season

            While the holiday season holds excitement and potential, we acknowledge how this time can be a source of stress for everyone. As responsibilities and expectations pile up, we ask God to sooth our anxieties. We pray that no matter how busy we become, we still are able to find moments of calm where we can sit and reflect on our inner life and our relationship with God. We place our trust in God that our holiday preparations will come together and that we will enjoy the times we celebrate with friends and family. Let us use the moments of restful peace to meditate on how to use the holiday season to draw closer to God.

Photo by Ellen Kneeskern '18

October 24: Thankfulness for and Acceptance of Rest

            No matter how tired we are, accepting rest can be surprisingly difficult. After weeks of leaping from task to task, struggling towards more and more deadlines, taking a break can feel like wasting time. But we recognize rest as a gift from God. We take this time to practice calming our minds and enjoying the present. We give thanks to God for the breaks that allow us to reconnect with our families and our friends. We recognize the care shown to us by God in allowing us to stop and just be still. Renewed by God’s love, may we return to our busy schedules with a greater sense of passion and purpose.

Photo by author