In the 100 days of Lent/Easter/Pentecost, the focus is on theosis, that we have the love of God within us and are moving toward holiness. How do we use this time? What is our intention? Christine Valters Painter in her work speaks of sacred time, of connecting across time and space, that we always need to be mindful of kairos and not caught so caught up in chronos.
In recent weeks, with the onset of the Coronavirus Pandemic, many people are thinking about what the meaning of their lives is and how best to use their time while they are on lockdown at home. Recently, on the show, Marketpla6ce on NPR, Kai Ryssdal asked the questions, "what is time?" and "does time mean anything'? as he discussed the new normal, the ever changing Nasdaq and Dow Jones Industrial Average. Perhaps this is a time to consider how much we live by the clock rather than by the sacred rhythm of Christ. How much more time do we gain by rushing against time and by worrying about has come, or what might come?
Many times, it often seems that each and every one of us has our own idea of time. The same folks are super on time for their work meetings, think that when you say to meet you at a restaurant at 6:30 p.m. that you mean 6:45 p.m. or 7 or even 7:15 p.m. Some of us take personal offensive when some one is even one of two minutes late. Some doctors' offices make you re-schedule your appointment if you are more than 15 minutes late.
In this Sunday's Gospel, Martha thought that Jesus was late. She believed that Lazarus would not have died if Jesus had been there. Martha could not figure out why Jesus did not come four days earlier when she asked him to. Yet when Jesus got there, he asked to be taken to the tomb and then at the tomb, Jesus rolled the stone away and called to Lazarus, "come out." When Lazarus came out, Jesus told the others present to unbind him and unroll the bandages. Lazarus still had time to live. I often wonder what Lazarus did with that time.
How do we understand time? In these days of being in our houses and not going out, it is important for us to pay attention to kairos time and seek a new rhythm of life in God's timing not ours. I have entitled this picture, "Time Alive" after a book written by Alexandra Stoddard, columnist, interior designer and inspirational speaker. She writes, "when we spend time with someone, we should give the encounter 100 percent of our focused energy. When we're prepared--in mind, body and spirit--we'll be co-creators in a pleasant, meaningful exchange, experiencing the heart of time."
Are we giving God 100% of our attention? Are we listening and co-creating or are we staying in the tomb keeping ourselves and others bound in old ways that no longer work?
I know for me I have found I feel most alive when I am writing but also when I am spending time with others especially one on one and yet somehow often myself having a half day go by without me doing anything renewing or life-giving. My word for this year is wonder, so as I wonder, I need to wonder what is being made anew and what I am re-claiming.
In recent weeks, with the onset of the Coronavirus Pandemic, many people are thinking about what the meaning of their lives is and how best to use their time while they are on lockdown at home. Recently, on the show, Marketpla6ce on NPR, Kai Ryssdal asked the questions, "what is time?" and "does time mean anything'? as he discussed the new normal, the ever changing Nasdaq and Dow Jones Industrial Average. Perhaps this is a time to consider how much we live by the clock rather than by the sacred rhythm of Christ. How much more time do we gain by rushing against time and by worrying about has come, or what might come?
Many times, it often seems that each and every one of us has our own idea of time. The same folks are super on time for their work meetings, think that when you say to meet you at a restaurant at 6:30 p.m. that you mean 6:45 p.m. or 7 or even 7:15 p.m. Some of us take personal offensive when some one is even one of two minutes late. Some doctors' offices make you re-schedule your appointment if you are more than 15 minutes late.
In this Sunday's Gospel, Martha thought that Jesus was late. She believed that Lazarus would not have died if Jesus had been there. Martha could not figure out why Jesus did not come four days earlier when she asked him to. Yet when Jesus got there, he asked to be taken to the tomb and then at the tomb, Jesus rolled the stone away and called to Lazarus, "come out." When Lazarus came out, Jesus told the others present to unbind him and unroll the bandages. Lazarus still had time to live. I often wonder what Lazarus did with that time.
How do we understand time? In these days of being in our houses and not going out, it is important for us to pay attention to kairos time and seek a new rhythm of life in God's timing not ours. I have entitled this picture, "Time Alive" after a book written by Alexandra Stoddard, columnist, interior designer and inspirational speaker. She writes, "when we spend time with someone, we should give the encounter 100 percent of our focused energy. When we're prepared--in mind, body and spirit--we'll be co-creators in a pleasant, meaningful exchange, experiencing the heart of time."
Are we giving God 100% of our attention? Are we listening and co-creating or are we staying in the tomb keeping ourselves and others bound in old ways that no longer work?
I know for me I have found I feel most alive when I am writing but also when I am spending time with others especially one on one and yet somehow often myself having a half day go by without me doing anything renewing or life-giving. My word for this year is wonder, so as I wonder, I need to wonder what is being made anew and what I am re-claiming.
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