How is your prayer life?

David asked me the quintessential Fr. Charlie question tonight: "How is your prayer life?" What started out as a quick written response soon became a rather long reflection upon the trajectory of my spirituality this semester. I though I'd post my introspection here, as well.

My prayer life is pretty good. Something that I learned about myself this semester is that I cannot help but be involved in my parish community... I seriously cannot stop myself from doing stuff! I have some sort of compulsion for Catholic service. I moved into the dorms on a Saturday, went to church at the little on-campus chapel the following day, and immediately started helping out with the lector and Eucharistic ministries. Three weeks into school, I was a part of Catholic Forum, and had started a new Bible study. I was amused by several people telling me that they had assumed I was a second or third year, because I was already so involved with campus ministry. After 5 semesters on Seekers leadership and 3 on SMT, I had been looking forward to just being served by the Georgetown community for a while, but, when I got here, it was very evident to me that the community itself needed service. So, here I am.

But, that doesn't really answer the question, now, does it? I just described my communal interactions with the church, not my inner relationship with God. This is a chronic mistake for me, to equate church busyness with spirituality. While there is a spiritual element to the work, it alone a prayer life does not make. So, allow me to answer the real question.

September and October were a bit of a spiritual recession for me. I wasn't praying daily, and I interacted with Scripture only two or three times per week. I didn't realize what a negative effect this was having on me at first, but by October, I felt like something was off. Another perpetual struggle for me is trusting in God instead of relying upon myself for strength, and that started to show up more and more by the end of October. Thankfully, Campus Ministry had a retreat in the first week of November, which helped me a lot to think about prayer in daily life (the retreat's theme). It was very on-point.

So, November has been a good month, spiritually. I started to find more of a rhythm, doing something spiritual each morning and evening. I do different things depending on how I feel and how much time I have, but I make a point of doing something: the daily readings, the Rosary, journaling, reading a devotional book, the Liturgy of the Hours...

The past couple of weeks, I've had an inexplicable feeling of excitement and anticipation growing within me about Advent. I really do love the Christmas season. It's a chance to celebrate the coming of Christ, to spend time with family, and to express my gratitude for the blessings in my life. So, my prayer life is great right now. I don't know how I'd be doing if I didn't have God in my life as a law student. Some of the students around here are so stressed out. It makes me feel sad for them, and I try to reach out as I am able, but there aren't many opportunities. I really want to be an RA in the law school dorm next year--I think it would be a great way to bring a little more sanity and sanctity to this campus.

So, in this first week of Advent, which is all about hope, I am filled with hope. I hope that finals will go smoothly, and I trust that God will carry me through. I hope that God will use me to reach out to those hungering for His love here at Georgetown Law. I hope that I will continue to have the Holy Spirit fruitfully directing my passions. Amen.

So, how is your prayer life?