What Fills You Up?

Recently, adoration has been my preferred method of prayer.  I go through phases where different types of prayer speak to me most.  For a while, it was LOTH.  Then, it was the rosary.  I still regularly do both of these, but adoration has been the most fulfilling. 

It started when I discovered that adoration chapels exist.  Here in Houston, we have one that has perpetual adoration (technically not perpetual...but for all intents and purposes it is!)  I have also found adoration schedules at several close churches that fit my own schedule.  Since then, I have made a point of visiting these chapels regularly.  I also found the following reasons as to why it works well for me:
1.  I need quiet time.  I teach middle school, need I say more?
2.  I spent my whole day talking and it forces me to sit back and listen.
3.  I get a chance to read books!!!  The adoration chapels I like the most have several books available, one of which I will talk about in a minute.
4.  I can still do my other favorite methods of prayer!  I can pray a rosary, read the readings for tomorrow, complete the Examen, whatever I feel like.
5.  I spend a lot of time praying every day, but I don't spend much time listening.  I make it a point to pray until I can't anymore, then I shut up and sit there, letting God answer.
6.  Zen.  I don't leave until I feel at peace.  If that is 10:30, so be it.

Recently, I have been reading "Could You Not Watch With Me One Hour?" by Fr. Florian Racine.  I fell in love with it and purchased a copy of my own, as well as an additional to hopefully set up an adoration book case at my own parish.  Last night, I was reflecting on the section starting on page 243.  It talked about how, in order to truly spread Christ's message authentically, you need to be so filled up on your own that you just cannot help spilling out over everyone else.  The filling up portion, in this book, refers to time spent in adoration.  The spilling out then refers to evangelization.

I realized that I have not been able to "spill out" because I am focusing too much on things that do not fill me up.  After praying for guidance, I sat back and listened.  God very quickly revealed to me the activities that filled me up, and that these needed to become "YES" invitations.  I need to make them a priority.  There are also some people that always fill me up, and so any invitation from them will be an automatic yes.  Everything else is maybe.

I was both surprised and not about what is on my list.  Teaching definitely is, but not any of my additional activities at school.  Most prayer moments and daily mass made it.  Certain people are rather new to my life but they are on there.  Some are old friends.  Surprisingly, youth ministry was not.  I think God may be answering my question as to whether or not I should do it again next year.  Over the next few weeks, I plan to pare down my schedule as much as possible according to this list.

I think my list will change over the next few months, but for now I have a pretty great place to start!