by Terry Plemons, Right Eminant Department Commander
We ought often to pray and lift our voices to God while there is strength and peace within our minds and bodies to do so. A day will come when our strength will be exhausted, when our minds are broken with grief or pain, and when we are unable to pray as we wish leaving us with only the sweet memories of our commune with God. We know that as we have honored Him with our lives, He will now bless us in our hour of need.
It is a simple matter to acknowledge the providence of God in our lives while we are surrounded by the blessings of life. We lift our eyes to heaven and praise our Creator for all He has done, but all things are fleeting, especially life. We are starkly reminded that in the midst of life, as quickly as a spring rain dispels the warmth of the sun, tragedy may enter our lives. In that moment we will be forever changed.
During these times our faith will be tested. All that we hold dear and profess will be laid bare before the world. May we continue to stand in the awe of God's majesty, beholding the splendor of our King! Francis Xavier was able to pray to God saying, "I love you, not because you have the power to give heaven or hell, but simply because you are you, my King and my God."
We are most attentive when we are driven by an inmost need to ask God for something or when we are prompted by a joyful heart to thank Him for all the good things He has done. Our relationship with God should not be confined to these momentary situations but should be the bedrock of our souls. In order for this to happen, this relationship between us and our Creator must be constantly revived, and the affairs of our everyday lives have to relate back to it.
When our souls are directed to God and He is the very depth of who we are, we will be better able to pray. When prayer is the foundation that upholds our entire existence, we will become men of peace. Through prayer we will be better able to bear pain and misfortune; we will be better able to understand others and open ourselves to them.
If we follow the will of God, we know that in spite of all the terrible things that may happen, we will never be without a refuge. In the beginning creation was made of love. When it seems that no one can or will help us, we may go on trusting in the One who loves us and whose love never fades. We do well to remember that He is not our servant but rather that we are His.
We must remember to whom we pray. When we approach Him, it is an occasion for us to examine our consciences seriously asking, "How do I treat God's holy name; do I stand in reverence before the burning bush, before the incomprehensible closeness?" Do we take care that God's holy companionship with us will draw us up to his purity and sanctity, instead of dragging Him down into the sin of this world?
We have witnessed and know that the heavens and earth are full of His glory and majesty. We must remember and be comforted by the knowledge that when difficult times come, God has not changed but rather the reality and circumstances in which we find ourselves. In the midst of our sorrow and difficulties there is always mercy and grace. Reaching deep within ourselves to that place where we commune with the Master, may we join the host of Heaven as we bow to our knees, our hearts uplifted in His mighty presence as we proclaim, Holy, Holy, Holy, is our God!