Last Thursday, I was rushing to attend Father Pat Kalich’s wake at St. Mary’s Church in Crown Point. Immediately afterward, I needed to head to the south campus of Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Church to open the facility for the Holy Hour.

Everything worked out the way I had planned. As I sat in the chapel at the South Campus, awaiting the beginning of the Holy Hour, I reached into my pocket for my cellphone. I store different prayers on that phone, which I recite each day. Much to my disappointment, the cellphone was not in the pockets. I walked out to my car to see if I had dropped it, only to discover that it was not there.

I returned to chapel anxious and worried. I began to wonder…What if I had lost it? Where could I have lost it? What should I do if I lost it?  Various contact information is kept on that phone. Prayers are stored on it. My schedule is on it. My worrying went on…What if someone in my family needs me? What if there is an emergency and I cannot be contacted?

So many questions – so much worry.

I then remembered the story of Martha and Mary, wherein Jesus responds to Martha’s request to have her sister help serve, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. Mary has chosen the better part...”

Here I was sitting in front of the tabernacle in a real tizzy, forgetting that I was facing Our Loving Lord in that chapel. I made myself calm by stating, “I surrender this to You, Jesus. Please help me to realize worrying about a silly phone when in Adoration is missing the better part.” When I did this, I suddenly felt at peace. I thanked God for helping me refocus on what is important, which is not cellphones or commitments. What is important is one’s relationship with God and each other.

I found my phone at home and said to myself, “You silly, old man”.

By: Deacon Tom Gryzbek