Bearing the Exile

You seek the friendship of those who, with their conversation and affection, with their company, help you to bear more easily the exile of this world-although sometimes those friends fail you. I don't see anything wrong with that.
But how is it that you do not seek everyday, more eagerly, the company, the conversation of that great friend who will never fail you?

St. Josemaria Escriva

This short quote is from one of my favorite books, "The Way" by St. Josemaria. It is a book with numbered sayings-a great help for time of prayer. I typically read them until one strikes me and let it "rest on me" for a little while. In this way it stays with me throughout the day.

This particular quote struck me as I was thinking about how truly valueable it is for people who love the Lord to make themselves available to others. Of course not merely because we "should" or merely because we "ought" but because the love of God inspires us to do so. Not merely for the sake of "converting" other people to a life in the Lord (though this would always be our desire for everyone to share in the penetrating love of God) but for ourselves to experience the greater intimacy that comes with walking with Jesus Christ. All of this being now said, I realize that I have a strong tendency to enter more easily into conversation with creatures...with fellow humans than I do with God. I often find myself thinking of the "optimum time" to pray as opposed to simply praying. The above quote helps me to remember that God is available at all times and is always willing and able (even joyfully) to pour out endless graces upon us. People fail us...God never fails.
Thanks be to God!