My cup of coffee with the Lord

BY KARIN HUMAN

My parish of Christ the King in Queenswood, Pretoria is one of only a few in the archdiocese to have Perpetual Adoration. In Queenswood, it has been in practice for more than ten years, without a break.

Parishioners take hour-long “shifts”, according to a roster, most of them filling their particular spot permanently. All ages take part—this is not a “youth group” or “older generation” ministry in the Church. People of all ages are to be found here: school kids, varsity students, young adults, moms, dads, retired folk and so on. We all come for various reasons, but with a common goal.

I realised after a discussion with someone during my hour on Friday that there is a misconception of “acceptable rules” governing adoration, something of a belief that there is an “Adoration Code of Conduct”.

The normal rules of respect and reverence obviously apply, but the idea that you have to spend the entire hour on your knees, praying the rosary, praying every prayer you were ever taught, or listing your sins in detail, really is not the only acceptable form of adoration.

It is quite fine if that is the way one wishes to spend the hour with the Lord. At the same time, the fact that there is concern that any other way is unacceptable may well discourage some people to come.

I am not in a good mood seven days a week.  I do not feel humorous seven days a week.  I do not always feel like life is a song.  So why should I pretend differently when I spend time with the Lord?

Yes, there are days when I spend the entire hour on my knees and there are days when I do recite the Rosary and say all my prayers. However, there are also days when I argue with the Lord because something has gone wrong.  There are days when I question what his plan is for my life, and ask if he wouldn’t mind revealing it to me sooner rather than later.

I used to do the 11:00-13:00 shift, I now do the 8:00-9:00 morning shift. I take my coffee in an insulated cup and have “a cup of coffee with the Lord”—and why shouldn’t I? I go out for coffee with everyone else whom I Iove and want to spend time with.

During the cold months and the Knit-a-Square for charity campaign, I took my knitting with each time. Was the Lord offended? I doubt it. In fact, he was probably pleased to see my participation in forming blankets for a homeless shelter. After all, the Lord encourages us to do charitable acts.

Last week I read my newspaper, much to the horror of someone who popped into the chapel for ten minutes. She questioned me on this. I told her it was simple: I had a very challenging week behind me. I had started a new job fulltime, I had personal issues to deal with, and I was mentally and physically exhausted. So I sat with the Lord in quiet. I read my newspaper—and in the silence the Lord spoke to me. Not a lot, but still he did.

I am reminded of the quote, “The best kind of friend is the kind you can sit beside without a word, and walk away feeling like it was the best conversation you’ve ever had”.

If you are in my parish or any other one that offers Adoration, try it. It may turn out to be the best conversation that you ever had.