The noun, rumination, means a deep considered thought about something.

Last week I took my car for an oil change. My wife and I were taught oil should be changed every 5,000 miles or so and this is what we have done throughout the majority of our adult lives (as long as we had money in our budget to do so).

When I was waiting for the oil change to be completed, one of the employees was resetting the computer on the car that shows how long before the next oil change should occur. Much to my surprise that employee came to me and said you still have 40% of your oil use to go before the expected change. I simply replied that I want to change it to keep the car in good maintenance condition, as it has passed its 5,000-mile mark since the last change. I want to do more than the minimum in hopes that I can maximize the return on my investment in the car.

This experience made me think about the many times in my life that I did the minimum required in my faith life. I went to Mass once a week on Sunday. I went to confession twice a year. I said Prayers when I thought about it.

Thanks to Jesus’ call and the Holy Spirt nudging me I now know that the minimum is not what God expects of us. I thank God for my continual conversion and correcting my past bad habits in this regard.

We should pray at least twice a day and make that practice an intentional action at a certain time each day and not just an afterthought.  We should go to confession more than twice a year. If possible, we should try to go to Mass more than once a week.

I know that is not possible for everyone but maybe for many.

When it comes to one’s faith life, there is no such thing as “enough” when it comes to our relationship with our loving Lord.

By Deacon Tom Gryzbek