Something you may have figured out is that I am big on countdowns to certain dates or counting ups from a certain date. One of my
countdowns end this Sunday. This Sunday Oct 23rd is my 2nd year anniversary here at St Luke’s. In 18 more days, St Luke’s will
become my longest placement. These both are very significant for me. I do not enjoy saying good bye to communities, nor starting over
getting to know a new community. I have enjoyed my last 2 years here at St Luke’s and am hoping for many more years with you. I hope
you feel the same.

With this in mind, I would like to point out that these countdowns can lead to a lack of faith on my part. It is as if I set myself up for
something, increase my anxiety, and my worry. If we put ourselves in the Lord’s hands, all of that should change. We should be able to
rest in Him and be at peace, whatever may come the Lord will get us through.

With all of these things in our life that can increase our anxieties, those things that we start to put more trust in than God. We
sometimes see these things as more important than they should be. Now, I am not saying that it is bad to count down to say, your
birthday. But if it takes a great deal of your time, it can be a hindrance in your life. I know as I get past these ‘mile stones’ in my life, I
will be much better off. Yet, I do feel some guilt in not handing it over to the Lord.

Recently in one of my own confessions (so not under the seal), the priest said to me, “I want you to picture yourself as a little child in the
arms of Jesus.” As I thought of that image more and more, I thought about the role of being a child of God. That sense of feeling safe in
the arms of my father. The warmth of that embrace. That feeling of letting go of worry.

With that same image I thought about how we are each called to rest in Him. To set our worries aside, and Trust the Lord He will take
care of us. This can be easier said than done. Yet the more we can start to do this, the better we will get at it.

Let us Pray, “Lord, I want to rest in you. I want to see myself as your child, and know that love that you have for me. As a child resting
in the arms of a loving parent, so may I rest in you. I give you all my worry. I give you all my anxieties. I give you all those things that
can separate me from you. Heal my pains, oh Lord. Let me remain always in your loving embrace. Amen”

As I say at the beginning of every Mass, “The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit
be with you all.”

Blessings,
Fr Backer