God’s Time-Out
Lynne Elwinger, O.C.D.
A time-out is called. The hustle and bustle momentarily ceases. Players leave the field of action to catch their breath, review what has gone before and plan some new strategies for achieving their goals. They assess their own physical condition. They listen to their coaches who offer a different overview of the game, a different perspective. Recentered and renewed, the players come back to the game that often becomes indeed a "new" game. Sometimes predicted outcomes are turned around, and the unexpected happens. The season of Lent in the Church can be likened to a time-out called by God.
Making Space For Grace
In this time-out, the divine coach invites us to take some time each day to reflect, to share our concerns, and to listen to the Word being spoken within us. Making space for grace in our busy schedules and placing our focus on a deepening awareness of the divine presence in our daily activity can transform our lives. The unexpected can indeed happen.
Perhaps we could envision the "giving-up" so commonly associated with the Lenten season as more of a "taking-up" of practices that will draw us into experiences of our God who is within us, with us, and among us. The early morning and the end of the day seem to be popular times of day for people to take a small time-out, but any time that works is the right time. God always seeks to be in relationship with us. We have only to choose to respond. Our lives are always a work in progress. Though we all are totally interconnected, we are also unique individuals. We are each given our own particular note to sing in the chorus of God's creation and no one else can sing our choose to respond. Our lives are always a work in progress. Though we all are totally interconnected, we are also unique individuals. We are each given our own particular note to sing in the chorus of God’s creation, and no one else can sing our note. What we have to offer to God of our own inner selves cannot be offered by another. If our note is not sung, a part of the music is missing. If we do not give God time for relationship, God is missing a friend.
At this time each year, when nature itself seems to be taking a time-out for reflection and inwardness, we are invited to recenter, renew, and refresh our spirits in closer company with our loving Creator. As we live into Easter, we can take stock of where we are in our journey toward wholeness and the abundant life that Jesus came to announce to all people. As we seek an increased openness to and awareness of the divine presence in every part of our day, we begin to see more frequently with God's eyes. We begin to find ourselves more able to sink our spiritual roots deeply into this fertile ground of our being. Created to be in relationship with God - created, in fact, by God's very desire for relationship - we carry within us a divine blueprint for such friendship. However, we are partners with the divine in this process, and our own "yes", as was Mary's, is required for God to grow new life in us.
Unfolding Into The Divine
Unfolding into the divine image in which we are created takes discipline, perseverance and lots of patience with ourselves. It doesn't just happen by itself. Our daily time with God, however brief it may end up to be, will gradually bring forth within us the resurrection Life, the life that has been envisioned for us from the beginning. The challenge for us is to make ourselves available and to pay attention. We are always being invited to choose Life, and to take time out with God.
Sr. Lynne Thérèse Elwinger of the Resurrection O.C.D.