Saintly Sips
with Deacon Ken

Running an ultramarathon is a profound test of endurance; physically, mentally, and even spiritually. Amid the fatigue and pain, one of the most crucial aids a runner can have is a pacer: someone who runs beside them, offering steady encouragement, timely advice, and the strength of companionship. The pacer doesn’t run the race for the athlete, but their presence often makes the difference between giving up and pushing through. In the same way, we need companions and guides in our spiritual life; especially as we strive to persevere in prayer and holiness.

 

Our journey of faith is long and often with moments of dryness, discouragement, or doubt. Jesus reminds us in the Gospel of Luke to “pray always and not lose heart,” but there are seasons when prayer feels fruitless, or when silence from God tempts us to despair. In these moments, just like the weary runner who leans on the pacer, we must learn to lean on those who can guide and support us. One of the Church’s greatest gifts in this regard is the spiritual director.

 

A spiritual director acts like a seasoned pacer who helps us recognize the movements of God in our life, offers clarity amid confusion, and challenges us to keep moving forward when we feel stuck. Their role isn’t to run our race for us, but to help us run it more freely, with great confidence and faith. Through their prayerful listening and wise counsel, a spiritual director can help us persevere in prayer; even when prayer feels dry and unproductive. They remind us that prayer is not about feelings or immediate results, but about fidelity to our relationship with God.

 

At the same time, we also need spiritual companions; friends, mentors, confessors, and fellow pilgrims; who walk alongside us. In the Communion of Saints, the Church surrounds us with pacers both living and eternal. These relationships strengthen us when we are weak and keep us grounded when we are tempted to wander.

 

Still, the race must be run. No one else can run it for us. Like the ultramarathoner, we must put one foot in front of the other in prayer, even when its difficult. St. Paul urges us in Romans: “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” Prayer is the road, not the shortcut. It is how we stay united to Christ, how we grow, and how we are ultimately transformed.

 

Let us be grateful for those who pace us spiritually; especially our spiritual directors; and commit to being faithful in prayer, trusting that God Himself runs with us, guiding us toward the finish line of eternal life.

 

God Bless you all,

Deacon Ken