Fr. David Convertino, OFM
Executive Director of Development
Dear Friends,
As August rolls in, there’s a noticeable shift in the air. The hustle and bustle of summer begins to mellow, and there’s a sense that the world is taking a collective deep breath. For many of us, August is a time when the pace of life slows down just enough to let us catch up with ourselves. It’s a season of relaxation, reflection, and, yes, a little bit of soul-searching.
I remember a summer many years ago when I was a young friar. It was one of those hot August afternoons where the air feels heavy, and time seems to stand still. I found myself sitting on the porch of our friary, a glass of iced tea sweating beside me, and a gentle breeze offering a bit of relief from the heat. As I sat there, I felt an overwhelming sense of peace. It was as if the world had conspired to give me a moment of stillness, a rare gift in our often-chaotic lives.
time seems to stand still. I found myself sitting on the porch of our friary, a glass of iced tea sweating beside me, and a gentle breeze offering a bit of relief from the heat.
As I sat there, I felt an overwhelming sense of peace. It was as if the world had conspired to give me a moment of stillness, a rare gift in our often-chaotic lives.
That afternoon, I was reminded of something simple yet profound: God is often found in these quiet moments, when we allow ourselves to stop and simply be. It’s easy to get caught up in the busyness of our daily routines, to focus on the next task, the next obligation, the next thing on our never-ending to-do lists. But when we take the time to pause, to breathe, and to be present in the moment, we open ourselves up to experiencing the divine in a deeply personal way.
August, with its slower pace, invites us to do just that. It’s a time to step back from the demands of our schedules and to reflect on our lives and our relationship with God. Maybe it’s sitting on a porch with a glass of iced tea, or taking a leisurely walk in the park, or even just finding a quiet corner in your home to sit and pray. Whatever it looks like for you, I encourage you to embrace these moments of stillness.
In these moments, we can reflect on the blessings in our lives. We can think about the ways God has been present with us through the joys and struggles, and how we might have been too busy to notice. It’s the perfect opportunity to think about what we want our lives to look like in the coming months. What are our hopes and dreams? What goals do we want to set for ourselves, both spiritually and personally?
I find that when we give ourselves the space to dream, we open ourselves up to the Holy Spirit’s guidance. It’s in these quiet, reflective times that we can hear God’s whispers, nudging us towards the path He has laid out for us. Sometimes, these nudges come as a gentle reminder of something we’ve forgotten, a calling we’ve been ignoring, or a new direction we hadn’t considered.
Taking time to recharge is not just a luxury; it’s a necessity for our well-being. Jesus Himself took time to retreat and renew His spirit. In the same way, we need to give ourselves permission to rest and connect with God. It’s a chance to step back, take a deep breath, and remember that we are loved and cared for by a God who delights in our rest.
I wish you a blessed August. May it be a month filled with moments of peace, opportunities for reflection, and a deep sense of God’s presence in your life. Take the time to relax, to dream, and to find God in the ordinary moments. And remember, sometimes the most profound encounters happen when we allow ourselves to be still with open eyes to the world around us.
Peace and blessings,
Fr. David Convertino, OFM