Celebration of the Hours

DR. MYRNA SANCHEZ

There are those that I would rather do now. There are those I do not like to do anymore, yet, I do these – matters of importance and value to me.

As a young girl of 12 or 13, I would pass by our school chapel daily, kneel before the Blessed Sacrament, and pray to God, “Please teach me your will.” A few years after doing that, I sensed the Lord wanted me to give my life in service to Him. I tried to follow Him in different ways through the various passages of my lifespan. At midlife, I felt the Lord asked me to actively participate in family ministries and counseling, which I did, and still do, for many years. So, whenever I think of quitting this service, I feel I am turning back to the “Fiat!” that I gave the Lord. I am no longer as young as when I said “Yes” to this assignment more than three decades ago, which included those services even before I joined the RMT-CEFAM. I do not have the same stamina as before, but I still have the passion for it.

After some reflections and prayers, I just decided to do some self-care activities, be selective of the tasks I have to take, and optimize what I can still do to continue with the service to which He called me, within my capacity as an older adult person.

Painting is a self-care activity that I now pursue actively among others. Although mindfulness is a lifestyle, I found creative and expressive arts to be good mindfulness exercises. Painting keeps me focused on the present moment, sustains my sense of well-being, and helps me to experience peace and relaxation. It made me observant of nature and increased my awareness of how wonderful and beautiful God’s creations are.

My studies and involvement in the service to Filipino families made me grow as a person. I learned a lot, gained many experiences, enlarged my circle of dear friends, improved my emotional intelligence, and ripened me into a mature older adult. I desire to give back what I receive. My continued participation in pastoral ministries, thus, to me, is a practice of stewardship.

I must be mindful that I continue to teach, mentor other counselors, conduct workshops, and counsel couples and families in response to the Lord’s call to His service – to His projects, not mine. To be called to pastoral ministry is such a very great gift. Aware of this privilege, I must turn to Him to offer my work at different times of the day. A series of paintings, which I have entitled “Celebration of Hours,” then came to be.