I always marvel at the lack of inhibitions in children.  Brady exemplified this for me on Saturday at an Art and Music Festival as he danced to a Calypso band for thirty minutes by himself with fifty people watching him.  He was oblivious to the fact that people were watching him groove, laughing when he tripped as he galloped to the music, and clapping with joy as he did his own version of the “monkey”.  Brady exuded joy as he danced, holding nothing back.  He fully embraced the moment and fully immersed himself in the moment.

As I watched him dance, so many questions went through my head.  How old would he be when he became aware of “others” opinions of him?  Would he still let loose to calypso music the way he is now?  Would he, like so many of us, find ourselves holding back due to our fears of what others may think of us?   In hope, I prayed that his unique gift of exuding joy, loving life, and embracing the moment in front of him would always be part of who he is and that grace would deepen in him. 

Watching Brady makes me wonder:

What would our lives be like if we fully embraced the moments in front of us and fully immersed ourselves in the moment?
What if we acted on our belief that God’s love will see us through anything?
If we completely trusted God, what would God’s grace enable us to do?  

Becky Eldredge

Becky is an Ignatian-trained spiritual director, retreat facilitator, and writer. She is the author of the Busy Lives and Restless Souls (March 2017, Loyola Press) and The Inner Chapel (April 2020, Loyola Press). She helps others create space to connect faith and everyday life through facilitating retreats and days of reflection, through writing, and through spiritual direction. With nearly twenty years of ministry experience within the Catholic Church, Becky seeks to help others discover God at work in the every day moments of people’s lives by utilizing St. Ignatius’ Spiritual Exercises and the many gifts that our Catholic faith and Ignatian Spirituality provide.