Hope you’re having a good week. Mine has been a bit rocky, with lots of stuff going on. Like most people, it seems like life is getting more and more complicated. It’s hard to catch a break.
A few years ago, I was on an eight-day silent retreat based upon the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. My retreat director was a priest by the name of Steve. Steve travels up and down the Eastern Seaboard giving these retreats, and I’ve been blessed to have him help lead my annual retreats for the last four years.
Well, about the sixth day of my last retreat, Steve told me something quite remarkable. He said that it takes the average person six days before they can relax and decompress sufficiently to really settle in and hear what God has to say to them. So, the average person has to wait for the last two full days to experience the best that the retreat has to offer. Wow. Knowing the stress that most people are under today, I guess that makes sense, but it’s sad. How’s your stress levels?
Well, what I really wanted to talk about was the importance of reaching out to those in need. Sometimes, we get so caught up in our own problems and difficulties that we forget about the problems of others. It’s easy to do, and I admit that I do it myself all the time.
But, friends, if there ever was a time to get ourselves re-focused on the needs of others, it’s now. Everywhere we turn, folks need us. By reaching out to those around us, more often than not we quickly realize that our problems generally seem small compared to what others are facing.
Take some time this weekend and think about just one person who might need your help. Make the effort and reach out to them, even if it’s just making a phone call. You’ll be glad you did.
