Like Running Water Contours a Rock
My Dear People,
I
was recently reminded of my 9th Grade English teacher, Mr. Uhl, and his
telling me, very earnestly, "Wallace, don't forget: Life is in the
details." "Pay attention to the details," he said. And, while there is
something to be said for "not sweating the small stuff," at the same
time, isn't it true that most of life is in fact in the small stuff?
Yes, of course, there are the big events: the weddings, the births, the
deaths, the awards ceremonies, the moon landings, etc. But most of
life-like today-is small, is in the details. As Sam Portaro says, in
his book Crossing the Jordan, "What we do ultimately shapes our lives, like running water contours a rock."
Indeed, what we do ultimately shapes and reshapes our lives, forming and reforming who we are, slowly, but surely. As sacramental people, we know this truth. We know it in bread and in wine, in song and in prayer, as we do and say and sing familiar words Sunday in, Sunday out, year in, year out. We know the power, however consciously or not, of ritual, of repetition. We know the power of doing the same things over and over again.
We are not long past a prime time for rituals: Christmas. And we have even more recently passed through a time of the year when the secular calendar presents its own ritual in the form of New Year's resolutions. In truth it might be said that New Year's Day and its accompanying resolutions are a secular attempt to smuggle into the annual calendar something like Ash Wednesday and the Lenten experience: a consideration of where we might amend our lives, amendments usually made in the details of our lives, in the small things.
Of course any time of a year-any time of day, for that matter-is a good time to amend our lives. And the truth is that the smaller changes are a) more likely to stick, and therefore b) more likely to make a real difference in our lives. Like running water contours a rock, as Portaro says.
So, what about you? As Lent approaches, what might it be? If you're like me, Ash Wednesday always arrives sooner than I expect. So then, with a couple of weeks to spare, what small change or changes might you consider making, what details in your life might you change, and thereby change, by God's grace, the very contours, the very shape, of your life?
If you watch T.V. while eating supper, what about taking just the first ten minutes of the meal to talk with your spouse or child, or (if you eat alone) to read a daily devotional? Or what about going on a fifteen minute walk down the block while your coffee brews in the morning? Or what about attending the Adult Forum on Sunday morning, or one of our Lenten preaching services one day a week during Lent? Or what about helping to prepare the meal with our Emmaus Ministry, say once a month, with other St. Paul's parishioners? Or what about making a habit of listing five things you are grateful for when you turn out the light each night?
Let me suggest that, needless to say, you not try all of these things at once. And let me also suggest that you pray about whatever you choose to do, even just a little fleeting prayer here or there while you're on the go, asking God to guide you. Whatever you do, remember that the contours of your life are being shaped this very day, this very moment. And remember, in this new year, you do have it within you to make different choices, new choices.
And we can be sure that God is always looking for an opening.
And, with an opening, anything is possible.
Indeed, everything is possible.
With love, your brother in Christ,
Wallace+
Pictured: Volunteers pray before the first Lenten Lunch of the season on Ash Wednesday at St. Paul's, 2009
