Eyes on God May 11, 2023By Rita Buettner Catholic Review Filed Under: Commentary, The Domestic Church One day this spring we went to an amusement park, and our teen sons ran off with friends. My husband and I realized that in this new era of our parenting, we were on an unexpected date. I don’t love going on rides, but just for fun, we decided to try a few together. The rides were fine. At the more intense moments, I closed my eyes and knew we were fine. Then we picked a little train that looked gentle and fun. How bad could that be? Well, it turned out to be more of a mini-coaster, and it was fast. I held on tightly and figured it would end soon. Then our open-air car stopped in the middle of the ride. We were stuck – 50 feet in the air. I hate heights, and I was terrified. We had absolutely no control. All we could do was wait, pray and trust that we would be rescued. And we were. Eventually – maybe 30 minutes later – the ride operators found a remote control to inch the train far enough down the track that we were above a roof. Then they brought out a ladder and helped each of us return to the ground. I was shaking – and relieved. I was grateful that at that frightening height, when we could do nothing else, we could share our fears and anxieties with God. We felt helpless, but we could still place our trust and hope in God. When we can do nothing else, I am so grateful to be able to pray. “Hold your eyes on God and leave the doing to him,” St. Jane Frances de Chantal said. “That is all the doing you have to worry about.” While recovering from our experience, John and I went to find an early dinner. As we sat down to eat, my phone started buzzing with texts. Our son wanted pizza, but he didn’t have enough money. Could we meet him somewhere with some extra cash? The answer, of course, was yes. He knew it would be. We would make sure he had what he needed. All he had to do was ask. Just as we turn to our Father in heaven every day. Read More Commentary Rome and the Church in the U.S. Question Corner: When can Catholics sing the Advent hymn ‘O Come, O Come, Emmanuel?’ A steady light: Pope Leo XIV’s top five moments of 2025 Theologian explores modern society’s manipulation of body and identity Encountering Christ in neighbors facing detention, deportation and loss Corridors of gratitude Copyright © 2023 Catholic Review Media Print
