By Katie Beckmann Mahon, Communications Manager
This week’s “Embracing Faith” article will focus on Embracing Faith through Inspiration.
“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”
-Jeremiah 29:13
In a world full of endless distractions such as addicting technology, social media, constant sensational news, it is sometimes difficult to find God in the everyday.
These distractions often take up valuable time, leading to wasted days while the world goes on around us.
In a recent episode of the Hearts Afire Podcast, Sr. Jo-Anne Faillace, OP, reflected on this topic and shared inspiring thoughts on how to create “focus moments” when dealing with distractions, as well as find “alleluia moments, thank you moments, and God moments.”
“The distractions become a way to God; they can be if we can be aware of them. They have power. The more we can be aware of these distractions, the more centered we can be. They bring us to God,” shared Sr. Jo-Anne.
Some of Sr. Jo-Anne’s recommendations to limit distractions include having a prayerful space, turning off your cell phone, and developing a prayer practice.
During the episode, Sr. Jo-Anne also reflected on how she finds God in the everyday.
“How do I notice God’s presence? It’s another level of knowing.”
Sr. Jo-Anne added, “We are ordinary people. We will see God in ordinary days. It can happen to all of us. It’s an extraordinary God that loves and is with us every day.”
A notable moment of the episode was when Sr. Jo-Anne shared an experience during a previous ministry when a former student of her was learning scripture, focusing on the “light in the world” reading when he said to her, “Are we really lights in the world?” Sr. Jo-Anne respond, “yes,” and then he said, “Well, how do we get lit?”
Sr. Jo-Anne reflected on that memory then shared, “It’s a perfect question to carry through life. How do we get lit?”