A book of prayers to the Holy Face of Jesus

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The Simple Next Step

The Simple Next Step.

Ever sit and think as you are walking about each next step you’re about to take?  Focus on that for a moment and try to shut out every other distraction.  (I’ll warn you there will be plenty).

Focus first on the distance between each step, the pace at which you are walking, the sound of your feet on the pavement and the rhythm of your stride.  Your breathing!  Now cast your eyes around you, starting with the 10 feet immediately around you and gradually expand your vision out further.  Pay attention to the smell of the air, the colors that you see, even the grey of the concrete or the blue in the sky.Now think about where you are going, but only to the location itself and not to the people you will be meeting or the conversation you expect to have!  Did you notice the stranger or the child that you passed?  How about people getting into their car?  You just experienced truly living in the moment and hopefully you got a taste of what you might be missing when we are preoccupied, rehearsing our next move, gloating or worrying about something out in the future!

We need to have a plan for our journey and a time for reflection.  So don’t get me wrong.  But don’t ever forget what is right in front of you with each new step!  If you really can’t quite grasp what I am saying, watch a child for about 15 minutes while they are in their own element and hopefully this living in the moment will really start to sink in!

“He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them.  And he said: ‘Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.   And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.'” Matthew 18:2-6.

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