Fighting boredom and dryness

IT cannot be denied that even with all our best efforts,

the danger of slipping into boredom and dryness is always there, what

with all this somewhat ‘forced’ stay-at-home dispensation we are

having these days. It’s truly a big challenge for us to be resilient

and practical, but we know that we have our limitations.

            Unless we let it, this should not be a big problem. We

just have to be constantly aware of that danger and do something about

it. There is always hope. As St. Paul said, “God will not let you be

tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will

also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” (1 Cor 10,13) So,

let’s not exaggerate our predicament.

            But, yes, we have to learn how to fight boredom and

dryness. They usually come when the heart is not anymore beating with

love, or is weakening in that vital function. What we have to do is to

stir it up again, asking first for God’s grace but without ever

neglecting the appropriate human effort we have to exert.

            Of course, the effort we are expected to exert is no walk

in the park. We have to be ready to be heroic, to go to the extreme of

our self-giving. Let’s take comfort in the thought that God cannot be

outdone in generosity. If we are heroically generous with him, you can

just imagine how generous he will also be with us! Let’s always

remember that he promised to give a return of a hundredfold to

whatever we give him and others out of love. (cfr. Mk 10,30)

            But, yes, we have to be practical in this. What comes to

my mind is, of course, to see to it that we are always praying

whatever we may be doing at any given moment. Every activity that we

do should somehow be a form of prayer. And let’s see to it that our

prayer is a real encounter and conversation with God. It should not be

just a make-believe thing.

            Concretely, we have to see to it that our awareness of the

presence of God is constant. For this, we may have to do many acts of

faith, hope and charity, some short ejaculatory prayers or aspirations

that truly voice out what is in our heart. God, being a father, will

always understand us, no matter how much we complain in a filial way.

            It will also greatly help if we can have a list of

intentions to pray for and to offer our tasks for. These days, these

intentions are endless. There are just so many people in great need of

things, both material and spiritual. We have to do whatever we can to

help them meet those needs.

            Of course, real love is not just a matter of good

intentions and sweet words. By its very essence, it has to be

expressed in deeds. And nowadays, despite the stay-at-home order,

there will always be things to do.

            Usually they are small tasks, even menial in character.

But if done out of love for God and for others, they can acquire

tremendous power to help people in their needs. God’s mysterious ways

and the Christian doctrine about the communion of saints will see to

it that even in our hidden work done with love can reach out to people

we may not even know.

            It is also good that we come out always with some plan or

schedule of activities during the day, so that we do not get lost and

confused easily, and so that we can manage our energies properly. We

have to realize that while God’s grace can make the impossible

possible, we continue to remain human with our natural limitations.

            Let’s hope that in the end, we are always on the move,

acting with zeal. That way, we can effectively fight boredom and

dryness!