Hajja Salesjana

on your computer. Yes, it is tedious, but go through them all and just get rid of what you don’t need, what’s outdated, and what you never use. Then, take each social media account and take a thirty day hiatus, one at a time. If you don’t end up missing anything, delete it or consider deactivating for a period of time. New scientific research suggests that constant streaming of online gaming, social media scrolling, and internet searches are actually changing the way our brains function. We are no longer a people capable of engaging in deep work. Instead, we are enslaved to the instant gratification of fast-paced downloads, videos, and short articles. That’s definitely food for thought. Replace Time Online with Prayer Maybe you don’t spend an inordinate amount of time on the internet, but rather, your particular vice is shopping or indulging in dystopian post-apocalyptic novels. Maybe you’re a work-a-holic (like many are today). No matter, replace whatever is a “time suck” in your life with something that is far more important: time spent with God. It’s interesting to note how lonely people are these days. Yet we are far more “connected” than ever before in history. The issue is that we are constantly plugged in to something, constantly moving or doing something, and we have neglected the very essence of what feeds our souls and re- energizes us: time spent in solitude with God. I saved this suggestion for last, because it is the one point I pray you will remember out of everything else written here. It has unfortunately become a cliché to say, “Spend more time in prayer,” and despite our best laid plans, we tend to fall short time and again in this area of self-improvement. Don’t just add time to pray. Take something else away! We are all given the same amount of time every day, and the key is not to waste the time we have. I have three little girls, all at home, and I’m the primary caregiver for our middle daughter, Sarah, who has a rare disease. But prayer is integral to my daily life. It is something I do not neglect, regardless of what else might need to be set aside for the day. And when you enter into that sacred space that silence and solitude affords you, God will grant you kairos time – His time – so that you can accomplish far more than you realize. Here’s a final thought from St. Peter Canisius: “If you have too much to do, with God’s help you will find time to do it all.” Indeed. Give him what little you have, and He will multiply your efforts beyond human comprehension. If you give to God what belongs to Him anyway – your time, your life, your day – you will find your heart residing in a state of peace. Photo by Austin Schmid - Unsplash.com 34 Lulju-Settembru 2023 hajja