Comments on: AREWP Week 12: Refocusing

By: Janet

Janet — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 23:55:00 +0000

I’ve found the whole AREWP series interesting… I can see how difficult it is to do this sort of thing when you’re home with kids, but at least you have some theoretical, possibly minimal control of how the day goes. I’m trying to work this into a workday that starts when I leave the house a little before 7 and I get home at 5. If I don’t do the laundry, cooking, cleaning, shopping, etc., in the evenings, they either won’t get done or that’s what I will spend all day every single Saturday doing. (And in some cases it just wouldn’t be possible to wait.) I’m single and live alone so asking for help isn’t an option.

Alas.

But reading about your experiences did inspire me to get the one-volume Christian Prayer (I’d had the Shorter CP and it didn’t click with me.) Now I try to do the Office of Readings and sometimes Midday Prayer at lunch, and then Evening Prayer before bed, which is later than it’s supposed to be… but as I read in one guide to the LOTH, for the laity it’s all optional, so if you do it imperfectly (for example, EP at 10:30 instead of dusk), it’s still better than not doing it at all.

By: CherBear

CherBear — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 13:58:00 +0000

Those last two items are exactly what I’ve been doing this week! Sitting on the couch wondering how I’m going to get it all done and pushing aside my prayer time! Last night I couldn’t sleep for the umpteenth time in a row and finally decided to get my Bible out and have some prayer time to quiet my mind. I wasn’t asleep immediately, but it wasn’t long after.

Thanks, also, for checking out my blog. I rather suspected you or your husband must be a web designer since yours is so cool. Now I feel compelled to do a really good job since someone with credentials might actually see my blog!

By: Jennifer F.

Jennifer F. — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 00:41:00 +0000

Thank you so much for all your comments! I hope to reply in more detail to some of them soon, but one quick note…

How do you pronounce that, by the way? I hear it “are-werp” in my head.

In my head I pronounce it “arwep”…which is wrong. I guess it should be “arr-oop,” which doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue. Leave it to me to mispronounce my own acronym.

By: Kelly @ Love Well

Kelly @ Love Well — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 20:59:00 +0000

Here, once again, is a post that totally intimidates me. (Yet I'm commenting anyway. I'm fearless like that.)

Your observations resonate with me, Jen. We so often try to shoe-horn God into the free moments of our day -- instead of making him the unmovable foundation.

The first thing has to be the first thing. Thanks for the eloquent and witty reminder. I love the AREWP series.

(How do you pronounce that, by the way? I hear it "are-werp" in my head.)

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 15:47:00 +0000

I identify completely with you.
One thing that helps to be aware what it is important is "death".
These days I have heard about some deaths, like a mate´s mom of one of my children, I have asked myself, really what is the important thing in this life? My work? My little things? My "have to do"?
That is sad but helps to awareness.
Thanks Jennifer for sharing your life.

Martha B.

By: Andrea

Andrea — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 12:06:00 +0000

I have really appreciated your posts about LOTH! I just started it at the beginning of Lent and discovered your blog at that time. Its been SO helpful to read your experiences! I am hoping your words will inspire me to put prayer back in its proper place- top priority. Thanks for sharing!

By: Jen

Jen — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 02:22:00 +0000

I want to start off by saying I love, love your blog. I love this post (and my name is Jen as well, so that may have something to do with it). What I enjoy most is we both seem to be struggling with the same thing. My prayer life has been a disaster as of late, and I keep “trying” (and I use that term lightly) to put prayer back into my daily life as though it’s a supplemental thing. An added benefit. I had a horrid day today, right from the time I woke up (I’m also trying to potty train a three and a half year old with no success, home school a first grader, keep busy a four year old, and losing sleep with a teething, nursing 15 month old) and I fell apart by dinner. I lost my temper and like you, held my head in my hands at the kitchen sink and told Him, “I can’t do this”. And I can’t. I can’t do any of this, but I get cocky when I have a good day when I’ve been faithful to my prayer life, and say, “Hey, thanks for the help, but I’ll take it from here.” Then I fall flat on my face. I think I’m going to follow suit here and try the Liturgy of the Hours. It’s something I’ve been pondering for some time. I’ll keep coming here to see how you’re doing as well. Thanks so much for your writing. I lurk here a lot but don’t post much. Your words and experience are very helpful and encouraging.

By: Kiwi Nomad 2008

Kiwi Nomad 2008 — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 18:16:00 +0000

Hope those teething two soon get their teeth! A friend was here at home the other day and was pleased to be getting more sleep again, now that her baby had finished getting a few teeth.

By: Abigail

Abigail — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 12:48:00 +0000

Ah! I’m in this place also this week. Where did all that Lenten peace disapper? Oh, because my Lenten prayer life has also disappeared in the span of one-post Easter week. I’ll be painfully climbing back on that schedule this week as well!

By: Tune

Tune — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 05:34:00 +0000

Thank you for this post! I can completely relate to your struggle and how I am also struggling in this matter as well. I think I am up for renewing my LOTH devotion.