The sky glowed in the east, but the sun had not actually risen as we entered a small chapel on the side of the road to start our day in prayer.
An aisle ran down the center. My friend sat three rows from the front on the right. I settled in several rows behind him, on the left.
I had just begun my prayer routine when a door behind the altar opened, and two Sisters came out and began to clean the sanctuary. They swept the floors, dusted the railings, and rearranged the setup of the altar in preparation for the next service. The room was small, so it took them no more than half an hour to complete their tasks.
Although they were mostly quiet as they went about their work, I found that even their slightest noise would distract me. I could not maintain my routine or concentrate on my prayer. I ended up just gazing at my friend as He prayed, because He was not distracted at all.
When He was done, we moved to the back of the chapel, and I asked Him, “How do you maintain your concentration with all the movement of cleaning going on around you?”
He answered me,
“Every morning the angels clean the chapel in heaven.”
I said, “I wouldn’t have guessed that the chapel in heaven needed cleaning.”
He smiled and said, “It doesn’t, but the angels like to do it.”
Then he smiled a little broader and continued, “Think of it this way. If you sat in heaven’s chapel, would you be distracted, or would you be enthralled and excited about the opportunity to watch the angel’s example as they intently and lovingly go about the simple business of serving God?”
He then led me out the door, and we continued on our way.