Reflection for Friday, September 23, 2016: 25th Week in Ordinary Time.
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Authors
Howard, Joan
Issue Date
2016-09-23
Type
Essay
Language
en_US
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Abstract
The 'Time' Of Our Lives In today's reading from Ecclesiastes, I am invited to consider 'time'. There is 'time' for birth and 'time' for death and all that lies in between: 'time' of sickness, 'time' of joys, sorrows, 'time' of trials and tribulations, 'time' of peace, penance, 'time' of mercy and more and more 'time'. What 'time' is my 'time'? Your 'time'? Their 'time'?|Recently our family of five children, 3 children-in-law and 10 grandchildren gathered. It was 'time' to celebrate. To celebrate PopPop's birthday and we did. In truth it was 'time' to celebrate family – which we did in the graced fullness of our humanity! We endured the shrieks of frustrated 2 yr olds trying to be understood or to change the tide of parental discipline. We delighted in the imaginations of our 4 to 9 year olds. Skits, fashion shows, spa ventures complete with finger and toe nail polish (Dads included). En mass we kicked balls, shot hoops, lobbed water balloons, batted a piñata, played charades and lazed around sipping cools drinks with fancy umbrellas. What a 'time', our 'time'!|This 'time' was not all fun and games. Also, 'time' of tiptoeing around scabbed hurts and still oozing wounds. New misunderstandings, unintended slights, and missed opportunities - family patterns are challenging, at best hard to break. |A 'time' for consideration of others: poor, sick, dying, addicted and the growing world wide refugee situation. Each of us personally and as individual families attempting to do what little we could to enter into their 'time'. |In the midst of exuberant chaos, dervish dancing and soft-shoe stepping, healing 'time' gently, mercifully flowed. We came together in the most familiar of activities – washing dishes, folding laundry, sharing the morning paper, working the daily crossword puzzle, taking walks. Soft spoken "good mornings' weary, gentle 'good-nights'. Older grandchildren nurturing the younger ones. Ragdoll like toddles gently carried up to bed by uncles and aunties. Older children permitted a starry night's walk around the block – unaccompanied. Sisters sharing late night girl-talk over a glass of wine. Brothers and brothers-in-law in raucous laughter retelling time-worn jokes slipping into softer tones about work and personal challenges. Mother, daughters and daughters-in-law having an afternoon out leaving the dads to "parent, not baby-sit' as the kids say. The ordinary in ordinary 'time'.|Healing 'time' was our 'time'. War, hunger, death and destruction, their 'time'.|Intentional love and tenderness our 'time'. Oversight, forgetfulness and neglect their 'time'. Joy and laughter our 'time'. Bloodshed, swollen bellies and dry eyes their 'time'.|Days flew by, nights slipped away – 'time' to go home. Cousins gleefully shouting and waving 'good-byes' from car windows. Teary eyed brothers and sisters holding each other tightly not knowing when the next 'time' they will be together. |Their 'time' -numberless days, weeks, months, years . 'Time' of birthing and 'time' of dying. 'Time' of not being seen.|My mother-heart beats in joyful gratitude 'time'. My mother-heart weeps in sorrow 'time'. My mother-heart prays, begs in supplication 'time'.|The good-news: no matter the 'time', our God is loving, forgiving and merciful. 'Time' is now. 'Time' is mystery, but all is in God's 'time'. I trust She takes 'time' for you and for me and for all of us. I trust her in all 'time'. I trust in her tender mercy
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Citation
Publisher
University Ministry, Creighton University.
License
University Ministry, Creighton University.