Friday Night Syndrome

"In our culture we suffer from what might be termed "Friday night syndrome." Few people can stay home quietly and rest on a Friday night. Why? Is it because we are not tired and ideally could not appreciate a nice quiet time? No!

We cannot stay home quietly on a Friday night because inside us moves a restless demon that assures us that everyone in the whole world is doing something exciting on Friday night. Once that voice is heard, then our homes, our families, and our commitments begging to look unexciting. Peace and restfulness slip away and we are caught up in an insatiable restlessness. . .

So much of our unhappiness comes from comparing our lives, our friendships, our loves, our commitments, our duties, our bodies, and our sexuality to some idealized and non-Christian vision of things that falsely assures us that there is a heaven on earth."(Spirituality for a Restless Culture, Ronald Rolheiser)

Is this the reason for our post-Christmas angst?

"All around us we observe a pregnant creation. The difficult times of pain throughout the world are simply birth pangs. But it's not only around us; it's within us. The Spirit of God is arousing us within. We're also feeling the birth pangs. These sterile and barren bodies of ours are yearning for full deliverance. That is why waiting does not diminish us, any more than waiting diminishes a pregnant mother. We are enlarged in the waiting. We, of course, don't see what is enlarging us. But the longer we wait, the larger we become, and the more joyful our expectancy." Romans 8:22

Wait, in the angst. Seek God's voice. Hear what it is He wants to say to you . . . and look for the peace that comes from God in this imperfect world.

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