I just finished reading a little article in which Cardinal Mahoney of Los Angeles wrote about what he considers a rather striking image of Pope John Paul II from the days he was visiting the Archdiocese of Los Angeles back in 1987. The cardinal recalled one special night at around 10:30 p.m. when the cardinal went down to the kitchen. Mahoney said, “I came into the kitchen to find the pope’s secretary sitting at the table drinking coffee, and the pope standing at the stove stirring a pot of left over soup. The pope just looked up and smiled at me. The Holy Father then remarked, “I think I do some of my best thinking standing at the stove stirring soup!” Isn’t that a great image? I love picturing that scene in my mind. I think I love it because I too, do some of my best thinking or reflecting while stirring something on the stove. (Do you think that means I’m going to be pope some day?!)   How about you, where do you do your best thinking? I ask this question because many people tell me that they want to spend more time in prayer and reflection but that they just don’t have the time.   My answer is usually the same – instead of looking for extra time, just begin to use those times and places where you already do your best thinking. If that is standing at the stove stirring a pot of soup, then begin right there. Deeper prayer and reflection can grow and develop right where you already are doing rather ordinary things.  One thing that Jesus taught us is that God is the God of the ordinary. So, whether you are standing at the stove or driving into work, whether you are shoveling snow or working out at a gym, wherever or whenever you find yourself doing your best thinking, why not invite God into that part of your day? I can assure you that the simple act of inviting God to be a part of that time will bear much good fruit. Your spiritual life can go so much deeper and it doesn’t have to take a great deal of time. Simply pay attention to when and where you do your best “thinking” and then invite the Lord to be a part of it. Fr. Mark