another lesson in "it's not good to stare"

Have I already shared this with y'all?

If you aren't Catholic, this might not make much sense...

This summer, the Holy Spirit put on my heart the fact that

I don't need to be watching people going up to receive Holy Communion,

nor do I need to watch them as they are walking back to their seats afterward. 

If you are like me, there is almost a type of Communion Line hypnosis you fall prey to.  So, because of His urging, I am retraining myself and my children to either keep heads bowed, to gaze upon a stained glass window, or even to focus their gaze upon the Crucifix. 

Shew! Do you realize how hard that is?

 

 I do cheat a little:  if it turns out that I am sitting on the end of the row, I will sometimes watch people's feet as they walk by. I pray for each person as they pass by me. It is interesting to see the different speeds, limps, gaits, patterns.... toes outward or inward... the many different shoes... the very old shuffling feet, the young and patient steps that quickly come behind and then have to wait.  I wonder what it's like to walk a mile in their shoes.  I pray that Christ is the source of their strength through their walk of faith. 



 

Do you share the same bad habit I am trying to overcome?

 

Communion is a sacred time for each person who is receiving and when we gawk or mindlessly stare, it is a type of voyeurism. They have things they hold close to their hearts that they only share with Christ. He is on the move in their lives.  When we watch them,

we infringe on their Sacred Moment.

We steal from them.

 

With a little practice, you will be able to override your own curiosity to look up. To judge.  You will then have a few more moments of a very special time between you and Christ Jesus - before and after you receive Him in the Holy Eucharist. Once you master the overwhelming habit of focusing on others, you are able to really focus on the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity.

 

And in a new way, God will have your full attention.  Intensely-focused moments that you can really open yourself up to hear His Voice.