Beads

“Prayer unites my heart and mind with the heart and mind of Christ. Prayer not only leads me into the presence of God, but prayer is the existence of the life of God in my heart. My heart and life are safe and secure in His love.” (Romans 8:38-39).

Christ in Gethsemane (Unknown)

The other day, a young man who works with me returned from a long trip overseas.  When he came back, he brought a few small gifts for my children and for me.  He had visited Rome and the Vatican City and while he was there, he purchased a set of rosary beads for me and a few crosses for my children to wear around their necks.

The gifts were lovely and thoughtful – though were probably not terribly expensive.  However, I was very moved to receive those gifts.

You see, I have pretty much everything that money could buy.  While I might not be terribly rich, I am certainly rich enough to be able to afford to buy myself and my family most of the things that they need.  In fact, many of the things that other people would consider luxuries, are actually not luxuries for us and are instead a normal part of our lives.

And so, as the saying goes, the more I have the harder it is to give me anything.  After all, if there is anything that I need, I can just buy it for myself.  And yet, this young man wished to give me something to remind me that I was in his thoughts and (hopefully) his prayers…

And as I look at those rosary beads, and as I carry them around in my pocket now, it occurs to me that my faith is the biggest gift that I would ever receive… After all, how could I ever ask for anything more important than that?  And those beads – those small stone beads that I hold inside my hand – are a reminder of that faith.  They are a way to know that there is something far bigger than me in the world.  They are a reminder that life goes on long past this life.  And they are the insurance – so to speak – that I can place my trust in something else.

And those beads – which in and of themselves are really nothing and worthless, are a reminder of the only worthwhile thing in the world – which is my God.

And I have been thinking about that over the last few days, because it seems to me that there is just too much that could get in the way of getting things done properly.  For properly is really just a focus on God.

After all, Saint Paul the Apostle wrote, “Prayer unites my heart and mind with the heart and mind of Christ. Prayer not only leads me into the presence of God, but prayer is the existence of the life of God in my heart. My heart and life are safe and secure in His love.” (Romans 8:38-39).

And I have been thinking about that today, as those beads really make me feel secure.

For with prayer, I stand on Holy Ground where everything is clear. Here. At the Foot of the Cross.