Time

Then, Look Around…

First, listen, and then, look around. Allowing one’s senses to take in and sincerely contemplate the happenings of a day can be challenging, never mind those of the times. Yet, it is these happenings that impact not just our own personal space, but also extend beyond what we might imagine. They are like sound waves rippling outward and amplified, stirring the air all around us.

The readings for the 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time begin with a passage from the Book of Jonah (Jon 3:1-5, 10) where the initially resistant prophet Jonah warns the people of Nineveh of their impending doom. However, just like Jonah who was previously swallowed up and in darkness (in the gut of a whale), the people of Nineveh see it fit to change their course, let go of their way, and open their hearts and minds more fully to God.

In Psalm 25, the psalmist expresses a desire to understand and to live by the ways of the Lord. The psalmist prays for God, who is faithful, compassionate, merciful, good, and upright, to teach them how to embody and live by the same ways. For this to happen though, like Jonah and the people of Nineveh, the psalmist realizes they must let go of the old (acknowledge and turn over their trespasses to God) to be more fully open to God. And thus, to live more fully as one created in the image of God, abiding by, and living in God’s ways.

In chapter 7 of St. Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, the people of Corinth are urged to pay attention as time is of the essence. The passage (verses 29-31) begins with, “I tell you, brothers and sisters, the time is running out.” and ends with, “For the world in its present form is passing away.“.  In between, St. Paul writes:

“From now on, let those having wives act as not having them,
those weeping as not weeping,
those rejoicing as not rejoicing,
those buying as not owning,
those using the world as not using it fully.”

Perhaps what St. Paul is warning the Corinthians, and us, about, is being consumed by anything or anyone. He is calling us to be careful about what holds our attention, not to become self-consumed or fixated on anyone or anything earthly, as all of it is bound by time, is imperfect, and therefore passes away. Focus instead on that which is timeless—God and God’s ways.

This leads to the Gospel passage, Jesus’ announcement of the Kingdom of God as being at hand, and the call of the disciples Simon, Andrew, James, and John (Mark 1: 14-20). The disciples are busy, at work, mending their nets. This is useful work, but God had other work in mind for them at that time. Jesus reaffirms them in that yes, they are fishermen. However, he redirects them to being “fishers of men,” but again as we saw in the other readings for the 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, only if they will it as well. With Jesus, as with God, no one is ever forced to choose God and God’s ways. And although the time is now, the essence of God is that Time is not rushed or pressured (there is no act swiftly or lose out), and perhaps most importantly, Time is faithful, compassionate, merciful, good and upright, patient, and always open to change.

Make known to me your ways, Lord;
teach me your paths.
Guide me by your fidelity and teach me,
for you are God my savior,
for you I wait all the day long.
Remember your compassion and your mercy, O Lord,
for they are ages old.
Remember no more the sins of my youth;
remember me according to your mercy,
because of your goodness, Lord.

Good and upright is the Lord,
therefore he shows sinners the way,
He guides the humble in righteousness,
and teaches the humble his way. – Psalm 25:4-9

Always in Time…

On a breezy autumn day,
the sun shimmers across the water
and the clouds
steadily make their way
from one side of the sky to the other.
The trees, they stand their ground,
their leaves have yet to fall.
I guess it’s not their time.

Yet, ripples on the pond
and clouds up in the sky,
both quietly passing by.
Always in time.
Always in time.

The wind, it moves the clouds
and water all around,
and yes,
even those leaves clinging to trees.
Always in time.
Always in time.

Some willing more than others.
Taking direction,
or making a stand.
Always in time.
Always in time.

Likewise, the Spirit in its stirring,
its moving of hearts and souls,
here and there along the way.
Always in time.
Always in time.

Always in Time… May your mercy, Lord, be upon us; as we put our hope in you. – Psalm 33:22

Shaken and Stirred…

One evening, a long time ago, as a teenager, I was travelling by car with a few friends, when the driver had to jam on the brakes, to avoid an accident. Prior to that moment, there was lots of chatter going on as we drove. However, as the car swerved to stay on the road, narrowly missed a sign that had been to the right of the car, but was now on the left side, and finally screeched to a halt, the noise ceased. In those seconds, it was as if we had shifted into slow motion and were transported into a vacuum, void of all sound. Hearts pounding, we just sat there, recognizing the potential disaster we had escaped. Then, after catching our breaths, we drove on, continuing in silence all the way home. None of us spoke about what had happened.

Throughout life, sometimes events can suddenly thunder into presence of mind, body, and soul. They can do so in such a powerful way that all that is left behind is silence. In chapter 9 of the Gospel according to Mark, the Transfiguration of Jesus is described as both an awesome and frightening experience for the apostles, Peter, James, and John. What transpired, was completely unexpected. In verse 6, Jesus is described as somewhat speechless in terms of how to respond to his companions—“He hardly knew what to say, they were so terrified.”

Clearly, this event shook the apostles; stopping them in their tracks, and reshaping the manner in which they would receive and respond to what was to come, whether consciously or subconsciously. While it seems fitting that the occurrence would happen on a mountain top, what happened would have been a life altering experience, regardless of where it took place or how it was understood at the time. In the Transfiguration of Jesus, eyes were wide open and seeds were firmly planted.

Oftentimes, the Divine is overlooked, dismissed, forgotten, or left behind simply because it’s easier, more convenient, or perhaps preferred, to believe and hold onto experiences that happen where and how one might expect them to occur. Yet, God is not deterred. On that evening so long ago, I remember being shaken and stirred. I also remember the deafening silence all the way home. And in that, the memory etched… to return, here and there. Only with time, and a lot of it, could I see that God was with us that night.

How patient God is! A reminder of the opportunity that openness to the wisdom of each moment, whether it is here and now, in the past, or yet to come, brings. No matter the locale or the emotions an experience evokes, God is with us, with a desire to take hold, to call us forward, and to help us remember as we do, the wisdom that is all around us.   

Jesus took Peter, James, and John
and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves.
And he was transfigured before them,
and his clothes became dazzling white,
such as no fuller on earth could bleach them.
Then Elijah appeared to them along with Moses,
and they were conversing with Jesus.
Then Peter said to Jesus in reply,
“Rabbi, it is good that we are here!
Let us make three tents:
one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
He hardly knew what to say, they were so terrified.
Then a cloud came, casting a shadow over them;
from the cloud came a voice,
“This is my beloved Son.  Listen to him.”
Suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone
but Jesus alone with them.

As they were coming down from the mountain,
he charged them not to relate what they had seen to anyone,
except when the Son of Man had risen from the dead.
So they kept the matter to themselves,
questioning what rising from the dead meant. – Mk 9:2-10

A Shout Out to Life…

Two chipmunks dashed across the patio, making a mad rush into the thick ground cover. Just a few weeks ago the landscape was still more bare than full, more brown than green. Looking at it today, it abounds with green… newness all around, a shout out to life.

Surveying the grounds, seeing so much life that seemed to come into its own so suddenly, while without question, knowing that it was, like many things, a gradual transformation, joy bubbles over. From chipmunks to ground cover speckled with white bulbs, providing light in the midst of a dreary, rain laden day, providing a kind of glow, transcending what some might label weeds or refuse into messengers of light and hope, carriers of encouragement and insight.

So often in this world, the answers to our questions arrive, catching us by surprise. They come unexpected. Yet, in time, they come. It is frequently at the hands of that which may be overlooked or taken for granted.

As we travel, more often than not, one person, place, or thing leads to another, and so on. Each instance steadily brings us to the moment where we see that whether we are in a time of walking or a time of waiting, everything comes together. Only God could be so good, so true.

The One who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” Then he said, “Write these words down, for they are trustworthy and true.” He said to me, “They are accomplished. I [am] the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give a gift from the spring of life-giving water. – Revelations 21:5-6

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A Time to Wait…

A few days ago, I found myself at the end of a rather long, slow moving line. Although I had anticipated this situation upon embarking to renew my driver’s license, I thought that perhaps the wait would be less since it was mid-morning and mid-week, but I was wrong. After wondering if I had made a mistake not showing up first thing in the morning and then whether I should go elsewhere or try another day, I decided not only to wait, but also to try to make the best of it. Turns out I was in good company.

While each of us in line could account for having paperwork in order (or at least to the best of one’s understanding) and thought we were ready to go, none of us could have accounted for the temporary halt in the functioning of the computer system or the various other issues that came into play, causing a delay for all who were trying to complete a transaction at that time on that day. It did not matter which side of the counter any of us were on, we were all waiting. We were also at a prolonged standstill for some time, except of course for those who turned around immediately upon seeing the length of the line or who left after little to no forward progress. In addition, we were all complete strangers, minus one employee and the person trying to return to her with additional paperwork left at home a day earlier. So, for the most part, we were all strangers, but we were together, and when one of us moved up a spot in the line, all of us moved up.

As the minutes… many minutes passed, for those of us who waited, eventually there was an end in sight, and along the way rewards of one kind or another. There were many conversations that sprung up, differing opinions aired regarding the need for such seemingly arduous procedures to prove one’s identity, laughs shared, and silent prayers during those silent moments when the stretch of time waiting seemed to lean toward being less bearable for all of us. However, one by one we made it through, progressing from chair to chair until finally, in due time, reaching the counter and processing the long-awaited transaction.

It is interesting how sometimes, maybe more often than we know, victory is in the waiting.

SunArising

Phoenix…

Oftentimes the passing of time seems so quick, fading or slipping away among the day to day pace of life. However, here and there, time also seems to slow, perhaps occasionally so much so that it seems to come to a halt, giving the impression or feeling of being on hold. A number of years ago, I was on a flight heading home, when an engine blew, and the plane seemed to suddenly dip or drop before steadying again.

With the smell of smoke, the loud noise of the engine blowing, and the brief plummet there were more than a few moments of uncertainty. Although all of these things happened rather quickly, as the pilot circled and navigated to land the plane safely at a nearby airport, time seemed to stand still as my heart continued to race from the fright of it all. I had never experienced anything like that in the few times I had previously been flying in an airplane.

Once off the plane and in the terminal, in the midst of the typical hustle and bustle of the airport, still somewhat in a state of shock, time no longer stood still. Within a fairly short amount of time, my fellow passengers and I were able to make arrangements that eventually got us back home. Some of us traveled together once more, while others remained, opting to take later flights. In a sense, we all began again, and while the time and place was different, as were we, the destination was the same.

Isn’t that how each New Year is? We strive to rise from the past, taking with us the wisdom of all that we have experienced and learned, and hold on by the grace of God, as we spring forth into the unknown.

Arise! Shine, for your light has come,
the glory of the LORD has dawned upon you. – Isaiah 60:1

SunRise2

Waiting for the Sun…

As the waves approached the shore, the sky grew lighter with each minute, casting out the darkness of night. Then far out on the water’s edge, a speck of light appeared. It steadily grew bigger and brighter as the sun made its way over the horizon, coming into full view. At last, there it was, in time and in all its glory, and there I was, in time and in all my glory… all by the grace of God.

I had been reluctant to sit in the dark, and had hemmed and hawed over whether or not to get up and go out. But now… what an inspiration to have witnessed the transformation as the light completely overcame the darkness that preceded it. How vastly different the experience would have been, had the darkness driven out my desire and extinguished any efforts to see the light and in the process the beauty of creation.

So many gifts! How precious and sacred creation, and the gifts of time and presence are. Life depends upon them. Oftentimes what one person may see or experience another may not. Yet, in time, the Truth is always revealed, and God’s presence made known, when we are ready and in the proper space to receive them—a willing participant so to speak.

Throughout the Gospels, Jesus is asked many times for signs to prove that he is Emmanuel (God with us). In today’s world, there seems to be so much darkness, and we, like the crowd, also seek signs. Oftentimes we may not see any, but nonetheless the signs are many and ever-present. When we stop, let go, and look around, they begin to appear; often in that which we may be taking for granted. For example, the sun rises each morning. In fact, the sun is always shining on some part of the earth, and is even there when covered by the clouds. We do not put it there or control it, yet every day it is present—and seen at the appointed time.

Sometimes, it is only through facing the risk, being in the quiet darkness, that we can truly see the Light.

SunRise

Remembering…

“Things which matter most must never be at the mercy of things which matter least.” – Goethe

November…leaves falling, crisp cold air, fireplaces rolling…a time of harvest…a time of thanksgiving…a time of remembrance. As I adjust to shorter days and longer nights, I reflect on all that is and remember all that has passed. It is interesting how time can change things.

What once seemed so far away is closer with each hour…with each day…with each year. What once seemed insurmountable is now but a memory…a valued piece of history along the journey. As I look back, there is sadness…there is joy…but mostly there is gratitude.

From the old…

For I know well the plans I have in mind for you says the Lord,
plans for your welfare and not for woe,
so as to give you a future of hope.
When you call me, and come and pray to me, I will listen to you.
When you look for me, you will find me.
Yes, when you seek me with all your heart,
I will let you find me… – Jeremiah 29:11-14

What remains is truly priceless—memories…love…and so many blessings, far more rich than and more loudly…more deeply than the hurts and the disappointments.

To the new…

But as it is written:
“What eye has not seen, and ear has not heard,
and what has not entered the human heart,
what God has prepared for those who love him.” – 1 Corinthians 2:9

Constancy, an unwavering presence, love and hope for the future. A heart capable of seeing new adventures…exciting perhaps daunting or unexpected at times, but also opportunities and potential blessings through whatever may lie ahead. A faith that has a history of overcoming…of surviving…of a Love that conquers all. While there may be plenty that is bigger or more powerful than me, there is nothing that is bigger or more powerful than my God.

It is all good. In God, we trust. All will be okay…the fight has already been won. God…Time…it is all thanksgiving.

On Time from The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran:

And an astronomer said, “Master, what of Time?”

And he answered:

You would measure time the measureless and the immeasurable.

You would adjust your conduct and even direct the course of your spirit according to hours and seasons.

Of time you would make a stream upon whose bank you would sit and watch its flowing.

Yet the timeless in you is aware of life’s timelessness,
And knows that yesterday is but today’s memory and tomorrow is today’s dream.

And that that which sings and contemplates in you is still dwelling within the bounds of that first moment which scattered the stars into space.

Who among you does not feel that his power to love is boundless?

And yet who does not feel that very love, though boundless, encompassed within the centre of his being, and moving not from love thought to love thought, nor from love deeds to other love deeds?

And is not time even as love is, undivided and placeless?

But if in your thought you must measure time into seasons, let each season encircle all the other seasons,

And let today embrace the past with remembrance and the future with longing.

There Will Be An Answer…

“There will be an answer. Let it be.” – Paul McCartney

Trust that there will be an answer. Wait for it. That can be so hard at times, especially living in a “right here, right now” world. A fast paced, blink and you will miss it, world.

There are so many sayings about time…time is of the essence…once you lose time you cannot get it back…time waits for nobody…so little time, so much to do, and so on. What, then, is essential for me to do with my time? Perhaps it is choosing wisely how to spend it…something that, yes, takes time.

“For thus said the Lord GOD,
the Holy One of Israel:
By waiting and by calm you shall be saved,
in quiet and in trust shall be your strength.
But this you did not will.” – Isaiah 30:15

What makes it so difficult, at times, for me not only to wait, but also to trust that, as I wait, an answer is on its way? Not only does Scripture tell me to wait for the Lord, trusting in divine providence and grace:

“Truly, the LORD is waiting to be gracious to you,
truly, he shall rise to show you mercy;
For the LORD is a God of justice:
happy are all who wait for him!” – Isaiah 30:18

“And your ears shall hear a word behind you:
“This is the way; walk in it,”
when you would turn to the right or the left.” – Isaiah 30:21

but when I take the time to reflect, so does my life experience. So often, taking the time to slow down, to continue to pray and to discern, and to wait for God instead of jumping into the fast lane and forging ahead as the world would have me, has lead me to a better answer…a better decision, than I could have devised solely, on my own. By allowing time, that precious time, and waiting, I have often been granted an answer… a nudge…a tweak to my original course of action or plan that has made a difference for the better and made waiting not only worthwhile, but also a gift…a blessing.

When I am feeling impatient and pressured by the ticking of the clock, I need to call myself back to the truth. I need to remember how good God has been to me. To remain faithful and trust that God will continue to be good to me, and perhaps most importantly, I need to cherish the time I spend waiting. I need to toss aside the clock and trust in God’s time.

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