Eleven-Eleven

The secret of happiness is to live moment by moment and to thank God for all that He, in His goodness, sends to us day after day.
St. Gianna Beretta Molla

I’m a little superstitious, if you’d even call it that. Most of it is anxiety-related, but the other part is just because I like to convert the “superstitions” into moments of blessings or see them as little signs from God.

My favorite little sign from God, which to many is a superstition, is to “make a wish” when the clock strikes 11:11. If you don’t know what it symbolizes, many people who believe and participate in astrological symbolism and rituals, including belief in certain number theories, believe that 11:11 is a time when there is a spiritual insight and when the universe offers a moment of clarity and enlightenment.

Because I am Catholic, and because I don’t believe in or practice astrology, I don’t make wishes. Even my birthday cake “wishes” are prayers. And though it’s been more than a couple of years since I’ve blown on a dandelion or found a four-leaf clover, I pray when I encounter those “superstitions,” too.

I find beauty in the parallel lines of 11:11; since I look for any excuse to say a little prayer during the chaos of my everyday, I say a prayer when the clock strikes that time. I’ll stop what I’m doing, bow my head, and talk to God. I’ll say a prayer of gratitude or make a request. I’ll check in with myself, and ask the Lord to continue to bless me. They’re little, consistent moments every day I find to connect with God when I don’t have a dandelion to blow on.

11:11 happens twice during the day, everyday. So, in my desire to just talk to God more, I modified the non-Catholic belief to meet my own prayer needs. Now, that time in the morning and at night are just two beautiful “excuses” to pause, and talk to God at seemingly random moments.

I encourage you, friend, to find a moment (or two) during the day to just pause and talk to God. Whenever 11:11 pops up on my clock and I happen to look, I know He needs me to talk to Him. It doesn’t have to be for long. Pick a time, pick a sign, pick something or anything that is consistent. It could be right before you walk through your front door; it could be as soon as you enter your car; it could be 2:56 PM if you want. It could even be every time you pet your dog.

Really, the moment you pick doesn’t matter – it’s what do during that moment that matters, and how you devote that moment to God.

So friend, make an intentional moment for God outside of your everyday routine prayer, just to say thanks, to ask for a blessing, or to just check-in.

Not a single moment is wasted on Him.