Recollecting Our Scattered Lives

Coffee shops. A dim lighted place where people meet friends, relax, reflect, meet for business, or get a shot of espresso to perk them up. As I am writing this entry, I am in one right now. Some are having serious heart to heart talks, others browse the net, and some are engaged in explaining their business model. While some are just waiting and making the most out of the free newspaper. For me, it is a time well spent alone reflecting on my life and waiting upon the Lord to speak. For many years, besides chapels, coffee shops have been a place for me to recollect.

Recollect in simple terms is "to collect again." Why do we need to do this? As the days of our lives progress, we come across many people and many circumstances. We find ourselves committing to various responsibilities, and sometimes we are overwhelmed by the things we get into. There are moments that we find our lives as scattered, with no sense of order.

When we recollect, we pick up or collect, again, these scattered pieces of our lives. We put it in the right order and throw away the unnecessary. Without recollection, we cannot develop our inner strength, the strength of soul. Our souls dictate to us our sense of purpose and our true joy. If we do not connect with our souls, we will be living frustrating lives because we will be acting like puppets. As puppets, we are controlled by the dictates of our immediate environment. We are stringed to what people say and tell us. The soul is the life in us, making us live life with no strings attached. Connecting to our souls make us free.

Now, who or what influences our souls? Many are willing to trade the goodness of their souls for money, lust, fame, and power. Let us not corrupt our souls. Let us not allow evil things to take hold of our souls. Sin will suck our souls dry to the bones, until we give up hope and submit to evil.

But the Lord promises His Spirit:

Ezekiel 37:3-5

He asked me: Son of man, can these bones come to life? "Lord GOD," I answered, "you alone know that."Then he said to me: Prophesy over these bones, and say to them: Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD! Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: See! I will bring spirit into you, that you may come to life.

We connect our souls to God's Holy Spirit. When we recollect, we bring our scattered selves back to the Lord and become united in His Spirit once again. What are ways to recollect? Here are some that I know:

Through prayer, study, sacraments, and service. Prayer, allows us to praise, humble down, surrender, and listen to the Lord. We are recollected of who we are, His servants. Sacraments, lets us receive his graces like how the sacrament of reconciliation through confession releases us from sin, like how the Eucharist allows us to worship and partake of Christ's body and blood. We are recollected that his grace overflows and we need only ask. Study, makes us seek God's wisdom. And service, gives us the chance to put our faith into action. With service, we are recollected that it is not always about ourselves.

May prayer, study, sacraments, and service put our lives in God's perspective. Amidst the clutter, busyness, pollution, and politics of everyday life, may we be able to connect with our souls and bring it forth to be united with the Holy Spirit.

Reflection Questions:
When was the last time that you have recollected?
What are the "scattered" areas in your life that need to be recollected?
How will you put these "scattered" areas in God's order?