Introduction to the Devout Life: Third Part--Chapter 31

Welcome back, Catholic Pilgrims. I hope that your day is starting well or ending well. Or, hey, maybe you are in the middle of your day and, if so, I hope it's going well.  Everywhere we turn, we hear about stress. People are constantly saying that they are stressed about this and stressed about that. Headlines talk about how stressed everyone is and how our society is one of the most anxious, stressed, and depressed on record.  To add to that, people tell me pretty frequently that they don't have time for anything. They are soooo busy. Swamped, in fact. When I ask what is keeping them so busy, no one can tell me clearly. They hem and haw around, but I'm never left with a clear picture of what is packing their day so tightly that they have no room to breathe.  I know people work and people take care of their kids. I, also, know that some people are in school and that keeps people pretty busy. But, overall, I think there is a bigger culprit—wasted time.  People work or go to school and then they spend hours upon hours glued to some screen. Before they know it, they look up and realize that laundry needs to be done or homework needs to be done, the kitchen needs cleaned, and the kids put to bed. Time has condensed because of all the screen time and then people feel pressured and stressed to get stuff done.  To add to this, they aren't enjoying any amusements which refresh the mind and relax the body. Screen time does neither of these.  St. Francis is going to talk to us about the importance of lawful amusements. Let's open our books to Chapter Thirty One of the Third Part.