At the Center…

While two out of the three servants made something of the talents (ancient monetary units) given to them by their master, “the man who received one (talent) went off and dug a hole in the ground and buried his master’s money” (Matthew 25:18).  In the verses that follow in this Gospel passage, we learn the reason behind the servant’s choice. It was fear that essentially paralyzed him. It prevented him from putting to use the talent he was given, leading him to make what ended up being a poor choice… one that did not bear any fruit.

Isn’t that fear in a nutshell? It seeks to restrict or incapacitate one’s ability to see the broader picture and to make the better choice. It seeks to pull us away and distract us from the action that is true and honorable… the action that is best. Not only that, but fear has a way of trying to creep back into the picture, trying to make us lose focus, become discouraged or question what has already been decided.

So what is one to do to guard against any fear that seeks to unravel us? Perhaps the greatest thing we can do is to stop in our tracks and remember. We have been given many powerful gifts with which to walk the path that is ours from beginning to end. God is not only on our side, but also with us, every step of the way. Fear, on the other hand, is the thief in the night seeking to knock us off kilter and to make us forget the truth.

Like the servants in “The Parable of the Talents,” in life we get to choose what we hold on to and what we do with the lot that is ours at any given time. When we allow fear to grab hold of us, we are sure to fall, but when we cling to God, and allow God to be at the center, then not even death can bring us down.

SunRiseAtTheCenter

Staying Up Late vs. Staying Awake…

The first time my children asked if they could stay up until midnight, I remember my husband and me saying, “Okay,” thinking that it was highly probable they would fall asleep well before midnight, which was a good deal beyond their usual bedtime. However, as midnight approached, to our surprise, they were wide-awake and charged full of energy. It was not because of a late afternoon/early evening nap or anything else we would have thought of, but rather it was all due to a Wii racing game.

To our children, staying awake far beyond their nightly bedtime and reaching new levels of Wii greatness was exciting and a great feat accomplished. To us, it was an interesting lesson on the power of Wii—a new addition to the “things that can rev us up when we really need to be winding down” category.

Thinking back on that night, as I recollect it—much more fondly these days—I am reminded how at every stage of life there are many things that can cause us to become revved up, distracted and/or pulled away from perhaps recognizing and responding to the better choice among the possible options.

Oftentimes it can seem as though there is so much to do and so little time in which to get it done. There can be pressure to keep pushing and plugging away, rather than pausing, if only briefly, and reassessing the direction in which one may be travelling. Coming to a complete halt can also be unthinkable… unspeakable, but it can also be life altering for the better, even when it may seem to be for the worse.

Like so much in life, the view depends on from where it is taken in… from where one is standing, and the posture in which it is received.

“Every life needs a hopeful spiritual discipline that recognizes the presence and action of God at all times.” – Jerome Kodell, OSB

Clock2

By the Light…

The sky was beautiful and peaceful. It was a pleasant sight at the end of a long day. At a time when one might expect the darkness of night to overtake the day, the moon was big and bright, casting light upon the clouds as they moved across the sky.

Sometimes it can be easy to forget how beautiful the night time can be. Among the vast darkness, there is quiet to be found, and, on a crisp, cool, clear night, there is also natural light from high above. One needs only to pause, and then look up and around to experience awe, inspiration, hope, peace, reassurance, or whatever grace may be most needed at that moment.

There is much that can happen throughout life that may seek to cast a shadow over us, to cause one’s head to drop and heart to sink, or one’s gaze to move downward toward the ground. There is so much that can seek to close our hearts to the goodness that awaits us despite the circumstances or predicaments that may exist around or within us.

Then there is the sky… calling us to remember that we are not alone… that nothing is too heavy… there is Light to be experienced by both the day and the night.

Moon2

Life Interrupted…

Earlier in the week, I was running late on the way to an appointment. I was feeling pressured as well as surprised by the amount of traffic on the local roads. As I drove, I could not help but think that if only there had been one less interruption earlier in the day I would not be in this position. However, the fact of the matter was that there had not been, and I was on the brink of being late… something I prefer not to be. As I arrived at my destination and put the car into park, I looked up to see a beautiful tree across the street; somewhat interrupted by power lines and signs, but still a pleasant sight.

Trying as it may be, isn’t that the way life is at times? Interrupted or laden with interference. It is like tuning the radio to a high definition station that is playing a favorite song only to have the signal repeatedly cut out as you drive along. Or possibly stronger, like losing a Wi-Fi connection in the middle of transferring a file. Yet, maybe even more impactful, like losing power altogether.

We all experience unplanned and unexpected interruptions or times when we may set out on one path only to end up on another. Times when we simply cannot get “from here to there” in the allotted time, or at all. So what is the point of all this interference? Perhaps it is to resist letting the perspective that whatever I may have been held back from was more important, or to always seek to remember the sacredness of moments spent with, or on behalf of, another. Still, more than anything, perhaps the point is to recognize it for what it is—more often than not, a gift—to see the beauty in each moment, even those that are interrupted or unexpected, and to ask for the grace to receive it with joy.

LifeInterrupted

 

Light Through Darkness…

At first glance, the landscape seemed to offer little in the way of premium Fall New England colors. With a little time and upon further examination, brighter spots in between the deep, dark green became illumined. With the help of the rising sun, as it began to reach over the tops of the trees across the opposite side of the park, red, orange, and yellow, once dull and hidden, could now be seen.

It is interesting, what natural, or true and pure light can do. No matter how bleak or gloomy a situation may seem, under the light of Truth, there is hope… and, where there is hope there is certainly faith and love. These together provide strength for the journey, comfort in moments of heartache and heartbreak, and peace to be open to the wisdom and guidance patiently waiting on the other side of unrest.

In the letter of St. Paul to the Philippians, it is written, “Shine like lights in the world as you hold on to the word of life” (Philippians 2:15d, 16a). St. Paul wrote this advice to the people of Philippi, the first Christian community in Europe that he had helped to form. Not only that, but he wrote it while imprisoned, essentially for doing the very thing he is asking the Philippians to do; the very thing we are asked to do. Despite circumstances, through the grace of God, and throughout the ages, we are all called to shine like a light, both bright and true, and with a heart and mind focused… not only fixed on God, but also fixed on placing the desire to do God’s will above all else. When we do this, we shine through the darkness that tries to quell and quiet us. When we do this, we break free.

SparksOfLight

Harvesting Joy…

In the neighborhood where I grew up, an older, very kindhearted couple lived at the end of the street. Each fall afternoon, over the course of a number of weeks, the neighborhood children would gather in their front yard to collect chestnuts freshly dropped from the two huge trees that adorned their lawn.

As I think back, I do not recall anyone ever asking permission. Somehow, though, it was a privilege extended to school aged children from one year to the next. I am not sure that any of us knew how it started, but undeniably, the couple received our presence just as graciously as they offered their harvest. You see, they also had a beautiful vegetable garden with tomatoes, cucumbers, summer squash, and zucchini among other things. The husband would walk down the street every so often to deliver a bag full of fresh produce to our door. The gift of his presence, generosity, and kindness along with the delicious, wholesome vegetables that he and his wife had nurtured and delivered with great love brought much abundance and joy to them, that they, in turn, shared with their neighbors.

While I did not know much about this couple as a child, or even later, what I witnessed in them spoke volumes and stuck better than glue. They put their heart and soul into their work; work that was meaningful and that could be of service to many. As a result, their garden overflowed not only with produce but also in spirit. Rather than storing it all away or letting it become spoiled, Wisdom led them to open their store to others. They received as well as they gave of themselves, and their harvest. In the end, with generosity, they reaped joy.

ChestnutsBasket

And, the Sun…

Amongst the many voices and other various noises as the events of a day unfold, reside the quieter, more subtle, sometimes missed happenings. Whether during celebratory or somber times, there are signs… gifts… blessings ever-present. It is as if they are there to acknowledge, “Yes, that…, but also this.” Perhaps they are there to help one remember, or to consider, all that is true in any given moment. It seems at every turn, there is opportunity to receive peace, strength, wisdom, joy… whatever grace may be needed or may be of benefit to those present, close by, and even far away.

Oftentimes, there is so much more than what may be immediately in front of us, or surrounding us. Yet, it can be easy to forget that. Even worse, it can be easy to become focused on a single piece or a fraction of the whole and to exclude the picture in its entirety from consideration.

We must remember, it is not only the sun that rises and sets, but also the moon. Together, they help to make the day complete.

SunsetRI2

Walk This Way…

One of my favorite memories of my father is how occasionally, if we were walking somewhere, he would move a little close and gently say, “Carissa, walk this way.” Then he would put his arm around my shoulder, and with a smile on his face, he would change the direction or the gait of his walk. This would not happen frequently, but when it did, I would follow along, also with a smile on my face as we took a new path or walked in a different way.

Today, this memory also brought to mind the way that setting out on a new path can be inspiring and uplifting. There can be a sense of adventure, energy, and excitement in going where one has not gone before, or going a different way than in the past. However, often in the world, there can be preconceived notions or fixed ideas on what “the way” is or what it needs to be. These can make pursuing what is new or different less appealing or intimidating among other things.

As one goes along, it can be challenging to figure out how much weight to place, if any, on expectations or ideas originating outside of us, or even within. Despite this, each of us is created to walk not as the world would have us walk, but to walk as one’s soul longs to walk. While examining our thoughts and opinions as well as those of others can be helpful, ultimately, it is best to prayerfully consider them alongside seeking the Truth. We all have Wisdom with us; waiting… wanting to guide us toward what is truly good, not just for our own sake, but for the sake of those around us as well.

Path

An Island unto Itself…

Earlier today, the Queen Mary 2 cruise ship was making its way into Boston Harbor. It moved along its way slow and steady. As I watched and thought about the length, width and height of the ship and the many people who work to keep it running, those who visit and vacation on it, and those who serve them as well as all the available amenities, I found myself feeling amazed at this “city” on the water.

Sometimes the thought of being self-sufficient and an island unto oneself, can be enticing. Especially when one can have everything wanted, needed and/or preferred encapsulated in a setting that is perhaps picture perfect. However, while the ship and all who are on it may be seemingly content in the middle of the ocean, or a short way from the shore, there are just as many people off the boat as there are on it who help to keep it going. Activity by both land and sea is necessary for the successful operation of the cruise ship. This is true regardless of whether or not everyone involved is a fan, or cares for the idea of a cruise.

For example, the person who provides or delivers the produce to the ship may have no desire to take a cruise or go offshore, for whatever reason, yet their role remains vital. Often, especially in times of disagreement, we can lose sight of the facts, the value of each other, and the truth. Just as water in the ocean can become less clear from turbulence, the truth also can become muddled.

“The irony is that at the very moment he [Pilate] asked his question ‘What is truth?’ he was staring at the pure incarnation of Truth. The One who is the Truth had just said to him, ‘Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.’

Pilate missed that voice. The words bounced off his ears. He was not ‘of the truth’.”
– R.C. Sproul

In Psalm 145 it is written, “The LORD is near to all who call upon him, to all who call upon him in truth” (v18). Even in times of distress or uncertainty, the Truth is always closer than we may think. The Truth is often right in front of us, next to and inside us, waiting to be discovered… waiting for us to be open and ready not only to see it, but also to receive it. When we call out and seek the Truth earnestly and honestly, with both heart and mind, its Voice is unmistakable. Everything else is just noise.

QMII

Every Tree… Known by Its Fruit

Have you ever stopped to consider the wide array of fruits and vegetables around the world and the richness in color and nutrients that they offer, not to mention the satisfaction they can bring to one’s palate?

Earlier in the week I had a kumquat for the first time. Not knowing exactly what to expect, I found it to be interesting and surprising in both texture and taste. Its outward appearance (shape, feel and size) was similar to a grape tomato but of a yellow-orange color and more firm. Upon chewing, it was full of a very citrusy flavor like a tangerine only with greater tartness and fewer seeds. The experience was not at all what I thought it might be like—a mild tasting fruit. It was new and very different than anything I had tasted before.

While I have seen kumquats in grocery stores many times, I had never gravitated toward them or been curious enough to try them. In fact, had it not been for the story and the excitement with which an acquaintance offered me one as she explained how she came to buy them, just a day or two before, for the first time herself, they would still be foreign and unknown by me.

Thinking about the experience, it is intriguing how the kumquat, such a little thing originating half way across the world from where I live, could pack such a powerful experience… powerful enough to create a sense of “wow!” and a desire to share the news with others for both my acquaintance and myself.

Perhaps, even more compelling, the fact that the Cantonese name for “kumquat,” pronounced gām-gwāt, means “golden orange” or “golden tangerine.” The name definitely gives an indication of what to expect in terms of citrus flavor and if you see a kumquat tree it looks very much like a tangerine tree, however, in looking at the outside of this little fruit it looks nothing like what a tangerine is supposed to look like. The shape is different, it is smaller (or at least what I had was), and the skin is not peeled. Despite this, the kumquat certainly tastes like a tangerine, and, if what is on the inside truly counts, then that is all that matters.

In everyday life, as we go about our business, we all bear fruit. There are many different ways in which we do so and just as many kinds of fruit. Sometimes we can jump to conclusions, assess people and/or situations, or make assumptions, based on what appears to be rather than looking at what truly is. We must be aware. We must remember substance.

Jesus said to his disciples:
“A good tree does not bear rotten fruit,
nor does a rotten tree bear good fruit.
For every tree is known by its own fruit.
For people do not pick figs from thornbushes,
nor do they gather grapes from brambles.
A good person out of the store of goodness in his heart produces good,
but an evil person out of a store of evil produces evil;
for from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks.
– Luke 6:43-45

Kumquats