Editor's Note It's that season By Darcy L. Fargo

March 15, 2023

It occurred to me as I was in my car, exiting the parking lot after going through the drive-thru of a chain coffee shop: It’s prayer season.

Yes, I know it’s Lent, and that is and especially prayerful season, but that’s not what I mean in this case.

As I approached the exit to the parking lot, there were very large snowbanks on either side. I couldn’t see the road in either direction. I had to inch forward very slowly, hoping there wasn’t another vehicle rapidly approaching. By the time I could see both directions of traffic clearly, my Jeep was well into the lane of travel.

It’s a situation I’m pretty sure most of us have encountered at some point in the North Country.

When it happens to me, I say a quick prayer asking God to protect me and any other driver who happens to be approaching. It’s been happening to me regularly over the last few weeks, so it’s been a pretty prayerful season.

I sometimes beat myself up over the fact that I struggle with the kinds of prayers I convince myself are “real prayer,” generally anything that requires prolonged focus – the rosary, Adoration with no formal prayers, journaling or reading, and similar prayer
practices. While I try to cultivate those practices, especially in Lent, my mind wanders rapidly and frequently.

I see the benefit of those attempts, and I keep trying. I would love to be the kind of person who could focus exclusively on the Lord for an hour, but my brain simply doesn’t work that way. My parking lot prayer reminded me, though, that I’m blessed to find God in little moments throughout each day. Sometimes it’s quick prayers. Sometimes it’s stopping and just feeling awe at and gratitude for the awesomeness of God’s creation. Sometimes it’s enjoying silence for just a few minutes and listening to what God has to say.

Sometimes it’s God reminding me how beautiful these little moments can be as I’m pulling out of a parking lot.