Praying with distractions?

[SecretaryMonday]

I came across an examination of conscience that asks if I have focused on prayer, or if I have said prayers with deliberate distractions instead.

I like to pray the Rosary on my fingers while I’m mowing (I maintain lawns and gardens for a living). It’s “brainless” work and I can spend a lot of time thinking about other things while I’m doing it. Is it a deliberate distraction to do so, or are “distractions” more like internet or other things that are attractive and take a lot of my attention?



Thanks!

 

[phil19034]

I came across an examination of conscience that asks if I have focused on prayer, or if I have said prayers with deliberate distractions instead.

I like to pray the Rosary on my fingers while I’m mowing (I maintain lawns and gardens for a living). It’s “brainless” work and I can spend a lot of time thinking about other things while I’m doing it. Is it a deliberate distraction to do so, or are “distractions” more like internet or other things that are attractive and take a lot of my attention?



Thanks!

I don’t think there is anything wrong with reciting the Rosary while mowing the lawn. However, “distractions” are things which divert one’s focus, not just attention. Praying the Rosary while mowing the lawn may not be a distraction for you, but may very well be for many others. However, I think you can still recite the Rosary while mowing the lawn, I would still recommend that you also pray the Rosary (or another prayer) while in a quiet place too. Try to make sure “lawn mower time” isn’t the only time you pray

BTW - personally, I could never do it unless I was mowing a huge field or something (otherwise, I might run over a flowerbed)

 

[MSSheBear]

I find that walking and praying the Rosary helps me maintain focus. If I stay in my room and pray it quite often something interrupts me. I take a rosary with me when I walk. If you can maintain focus then don’t worry about it. You aren’t required to pray the Rosary anyway.

 

[fred_conty]

I came across an examination of conscience that asks if I have focused on prayer, or if I have said prayers with deliberate distractions instead.

I like to pray the Rosary on my fingers while I’m mowing (I maintain lawns and gardens for a living). It’s “brainless” work and I can spend a lot of time thinking about other things while I’m doing it. Is it a deliberate distraction to do so, or are “distractions” more like internet or other things that are attractive and take a lot of my attention?



Thanks!

You’re doing it right. Jesus knows you are working and that not to pray would be easier for you. You have chosen what the sister of Martha chose, to curl up at the feet of Jesus and keep him company. He appreciates that, and the distractions just come with the territory. And remember the poor souls and especially the poor sinners.

May God bless and keep you. May God’s face shine on you. May God be kind to you and give you peace.

 

[Richard_White]

I think that what you are doing is fine, as long as you are truly focusing on the Holy Mysteries. May God bless you.

 

[Zekariya]

I came across an examination of conscience that asks if I have focused on prayer, or if I have said prayers with deliberate distractions instead.

I like to pray the Rosary on my fingers while I’m mowing (I maintain lawns and gardens for a living). It’s “brainless” work and I can spend a lot of time thinking about other things while I’m doing it. Is it a deliberate distraction to do so, or are “distractions” more like internet or other things that are attractive and take a lot of my attention?



Thanks!

As long as you are not intentionally being distracted, you are fine. If you get distracted while mowing the lawn, that is an unintentional distraction. Deliberate distractions is when you choose let yourself be distracted or choose to only give God times that you know are distracting. For example: one may choose to pray with the TV on knowing that he will want to watch it even though he could turn it off or go into another room.

In the East, each person has a rule of prayer that he prays each day. I pray my rule of prayer in the quiet of my room. I can pray any additional (above and beyond) prayers even if I am slightly distracted because I am not subtracting quality from my minimal prayer time with God.

I hope that I am clear. Try not to be distracted with your minimum prayer time with God. Extra prayer, even when distracted, is a good thing.

 

[SecretaryMonday]

Thanks, everyone!