Praying for Simon
"Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you like wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith will not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers."
~ Luke 22:31-32
It is very easy to get caught up in thinking that all we see is all there is to life. We don't usually consider that we are, as French philosopher Pierre Teilhard de Chardin noted, "spiritual beings having a human experience." Even when God enlightens us to himself or grants us clarity on what we must do or how we must live, we can quickly get sidetracked by our humanity or the demands of life around us and we fall back into old, unhealthy patterns. Our desire to follow God doesn't necessarily get thrown out the window; however, it can get pushed to the back burner as we justify to ourselves why worldly matters take priority.
A few years ago, my beloved cat, Kip, took it upon himself to jump onto the glass top stove as I removed the boiling pot of pasta. He had hoped to use the stove as a means by which he could jump onto the refrigerator. He liked being higher than everything so he could keep an eye on the whole studio flat. He burned two of his paws pretty badly. After a visit to the emergency vet, I figured he wouldn't do that again. Early the next morning, I woke to find him waiting for me to remove the pots and pans I had put on the stove to deter him, just in case. He didn't learn his lesson.
How many times can you say the same has happened to you regarding lessons God has taught you? I know I've lost count of the times he's had to explain things to me yet again. After my most recent experience, I finally got it. It's only taken me close to 50 years to truly start listening. My body, mind, and spirit are weary from the journey but God is faithful and continues to be my strength and my guide.
It comforts me to know that Jesus has been praying for me all along. His prayers come with a responsibility on my part, though - I must share with others the same consolation I have received (2 Corinthians 1:4) and thus help others find their way to God...or back to God. I hope and pray that at least some of my reflections here will help you on your journey.
You are not alone. I am praying for you, as is Jesus. May our faith not fail and may we strengthen one another.
Berny.
Thank you for visiting my site! My name is Berny and I am a devout Catholic woman with a passion for leading others to Christ. My faith and my family are my top priorities, in that order. I love photography, quilting, and cooking. I've worked as a statistician, a cartographer, a clinical counselor, an academic counselor, a library assistant, and a blogger. In 2008, I married Jesus Christ by taking vows in the Order of Consecrated Virgins. For the past several years, I lived with my parents to help take care of my father, who died of vascular dementia in August 2025. He was my best friend, my advisor, my ride or die. It was a privilege to walk along side him on his journey and to be with him when he went Home. I have a 3 year-old fur baby named Dandelion (Dandy for short). I see God everywhere and hope that, through this site, you will see him, too. Stay updated by subscribing to my newsletter!
God is good and faithful!
