A funny thing happened this afternoon as I listened to something from Father Schmitz, chaplain at the University of Minnesota Duluth.

I know it’s no coincidence because I really wasn’t planning on listening to his homily today, but since I subscribed to Hallow at some point maybe last year, I started a daily morning routine I hadn’t completed yet today since Sundays involve, well, a different kind of routine.

The irony is that literally just prior to chopping up veggies for tonight’s stew, I’d told a friend of mine that I was going to work on writing some divinely inspired blog posts (mind you, I think I began this blog more than 10 years ago but only recently began actually *finishing* posts on it 😳). 

Anyhow, I decided I’d stick in my airpods and listen to this morning’s Jeff Cavins meditation on today’s reading: Matthew 4:1-11 while preparing dinner, when Father Schmitz’s homily was next up and caught my attention. I was already keenly aware of my normal temptations as I attempted to write: the distractions leading me toward something else to do, or, as is often the case, succumbing to writer’s block and simply tabling the idea altogether. 

And wouldn’t you know it? Fr. Schmitz was speaking of stats of those who wish to write a book (I’m one of the 80% of surveyed people who do), which led to a very inspirational homily centering in on the Gospel of Jesus’ temptation in the desert, alongside the beginning of the story of Prodigal Son.

Essentially he reminded us of our freedom to choose how we will conduct the “story of our life,” while reflecting on Adam and Eve’s decision to find happiness apart from God, and the prodigal son’s decision to find happiness apart from his family (understanding that the father in the story demonstrates the unconditional love and mercy of our Heavenly Father).

That depiction of sin really resonated with me, so I wanted to share it with you: that sin is merely “our attempt to be happy apart from God.”

Eve said the forbidden fruit looked tasty, edible, and bought into the notion that she would gain wisdom in partaking. Adam chose to listen to his partner’s enthusiasm instead of making a decision to honor and follow God. The Prodigal Son in the story (Luke 15:11-32) decided that if he did his own thing, surely he’d be a lot happier than following his father’s household rules.

In some ways, I can definitely see how my inability to actually follow through with what God lays on my heart to write at times is in direct relation to my willingness to let Him assist me in my efforts.

The stories of our lives are continuously evolving. Likewise, the posts that I become inspired to write will no doubt keep coming to me. We all will do better as we allow collaboration with the One who knows and loves us best.