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Daily reflections for Lenten Easter, written by Oblate Father Ron Rolheiser, OMI.

While doing my doctoral studies in Belgium, I was privileged to be able to attend the lectures of Antoine Vergo, a renowned doctor of both psychology and the soul.

I asked him one day how one should handle emotional obsessions both within oneself and when trying to help others. His answer surprised me. He said something to this effect.

God and prayer can and do help. But obsessional problems are mainly problems of over concentration. And over concentration is broken mainly by getting outside of yourself, outside of your own mind and heart and room.

Get involved in public things, from entertainment to politics to work. Get outside of your closed world.
Monks with their monastic rhythm have long understood this. Program, rhythm, public participation, the demand to show up, the discipline of the monastic bell has kept many a man and woman sane, and relatively happy, besides.

More specifically, for us Christians, the therapy of public life means the therapy of an ecclesial life. We become emotionally, well, steadier, less obsessed, less a, slave of our own restlessness by participating fully and healthily within the public life of the church.

Regular Eucharist, regular prayer with others, regular meetings to share faith, and regular duties and responsibilities within ministry not only nurture our spiritual lives, they also keep us sane and steady.